Madam, - Kevin Myers is right to describe the the multi-seat constituency as "a vile and irreformable contaminant in Irish political life, reinforcing our traditional Tammany instinct for jobbery and favours" (An Irishman's Diary, May 12th). He concludes it is "a worthless electoral system which corrupts, contaminates and complicates".
Multi-seat constituencies have given us spineless political leaders who see their primary function as doing what they can to ensure their re-election and that of their party colleagues. The needs of the country just do not seem to count. Examples include the reaction of politicians of all parties to the various reports on reform of the heath service and the behaviour of successive governments in relation to the Shannon stopover.
Your correspondent correctly criticised the American and British electoral systems but did not suggest an alternative. What is wrong with single-seat constituencies with PR? This would stopcandidates from the same party competing against each other but avoid the unrepresentative results produced in the US and UK. - Yours, etc.,
J. KELLY, Foxrock, Dublin 18.