Sir, – The statement in your Editorial (May 16th) that "12 detailed reports on necessary reforms were allowed to gather dust" is inaccurate. The figure 12 is derived from the 2004 report of the Seanad Committee on Procedures and Privileges, which lists 11 previous reports and itself forms the twelfth. Of the 11 earlier reports, those of 1928, 1936, 1947, and 1953 were in fact largely implemented, while those of 1937 and 1959 made almost no recommendations because the committee members disagreed. The 1943 report's reference to the Seanad panel elections is a mere detail in its vast corporatist fancy. The 1967 and 1996 reports were reviews of the entire Constitution, and the 1997 and 2002 reports were chapters of a review of the entire Constitution. The only report which is both specific to the Seanad and unimplemented was the Seanad's own 2004 report. – Yours, etc,
JOE STYNES,
Temple Vale,
Ballintemple, Cork.