Sir, – Every political party has spoken about Seanad reform since the 1970s, but nothing has ever been done about it. In 1979 the electorate voted in a referendum to allow graduates of third-level colleges other than NUI and Trinity to vote in Seanad elections, yet 43 years later it still has not been implemented. The Dáil debated political reform last week, but no mention of the implementation of the decision of the 1979 referendum. This suggests to me that politicians want to maintain the status quo in Seanad elections. What does this say about our democracy? Legislation should be introduced to implement the wishes of the electorate in 1979 with regard to voting in Seanad Éireann elections. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL,
Dublin 14.