Sir, - A referendum is defined in the Concise Oxford Dictionary as "the process of referring a political question to the electorate for a direct decision by general vote."
Why is little effort being made to tell the public that the Irish people are not being given the last word on the 25th Amendment to the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) Bill, 2001? I refer your readers to the explanatory memorandum which accompanied the Bill:
"In effect, the electorate is being asked to approve a conditional amendment to the Constitution, which will have effect only if, subsequent to the referendum, the Oireachtas enacts the Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy Act, 2002, exactly as contained within the second schedule to this Bill as enacted."
I will be voting No to register my protest at this procedure.
When is a referendum not a referendum? When it is conditional. - Yours, etc.,
Gerry Glennon, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.