Madam, – Dr Ed Walsh (Opinion, July 6th) rightly claims that the country is ill-served by the lack of science or business expertise among its politicians.
Why then is Article 28.7.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which provides that two members of Seanad Éireann may sit at Government not even part of the public discourse? Surely it would be in the Taoiseach's interest to use his appointments to the Upper House when vacancies arise to bring in some much needed expertise and business experience to a ministry rather than giving a job to another one of the boys? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – For someone so keen on scientific literacy as Dr Ed Walsh to make such a sweeping statement that the STV (single transferable vote) electoral system “has been abandoned across the globe by every other democracy with the exception of Malta” is surprising. His statement is wholly inaccurate as is his characterisation of PR STV as an antiquated electoral system. In fact there are campaigns in many democracies to bring in PR STV such as in Britain where the Liberal Democrats have campaigned for its introduction.
In the United Kingdom, PR STV has replaced first past the post voting in the Northern Ireland Assembly and was recently introduced in the Scottish local elections. In an electoral commission report carried out in relation to the Welsh Assembly elections the replacement of the current electoral system by PR STV was recommended.
In British Columbia the Citizens’ Assembly recommended a change to PR STV, as have civic campaigns in Australia where Tasmania has for a long time elected its parliament by PR STV. Any other electoral system other than PR STV gives the voter less say, which makes me wonder if Dr Ed Walsh’s real problem is with an electoral system that allows the voter decide who sits in our Dáil. – Yours, etc,