Sir, – I watched as Minister for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan introduced the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014, which will extend Seanad voting rights to graduates of over 80 higher-level institutions.
The Bill reflects a decision made by the people in 1979, a time when Jack Lynch was taoiseach and over a million people assembled in the Phoenix Park to see Pope John Paul II.
After 35 years, the Government is legislating for a decision that only acts to institutionalise the much-criticised elitism of the Seanad.
As a result of the Bill, 800,000 graduates will elect six Senators, 753 county councillors will still elect 43 Senators, with the Taoiseach maintaining the power to nominate 11 Senators without any criteria for selection.
This is a throwback to an era where a citizen needed to own property to have a vote and does not reflect a democracy fit for 1979, let alone 2014. – Yours, etc,
DANIEL GRIFFIN,
The Grove,
Dunboyne Castle, Co Meath.