Sir, – There are other groups, besides women, who comprise about 50 per cent of the electorate – or, at least, 50 per cent of those who actually vote. In the last divorce referendum, nearly 50 per cent voted against the introduction of divorce. In the last abortion referendum, nearly 50 per cent voted to close the X case loophole. Probably the same 50 per cent in both cases, and probably accurately described as “family values” voters.
Whenever political representation is discussed, however, family values voters are ignored. There was a time when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could both have been described as representing family values voters, but no longer. Fianna Fáil took to pursuing a range of anti-family policies (tax individualisation, scrapping of tax allowances for children, policies leading to house price inflation) which made one-income families financially unviable. Fine Gael, when last in office, supported the introduction of divorce, and this time around, introduced legislation for the X case.
So, once again, I write to point out that the media emphasis is wrong. While gender quotas and such matters are widely debated, the glaring lack of representation for family values voters appears to have entirely escaped your attention. Yours, etc,
JIM STACK,
Lismore,
Co Waterford