Sir, – For longer than I care to remember, I have never knowingly spoiled my vote but in the upcoming presidential age referendum I am compelled to make an exception.
As the country cries out for referendums on pressing political and social issues we get instead a referendum of little relevance or interest. I would urge your readers to make their votes count. Spoil them and send the message to our political masters that this is not the kind of political reform we were promised. – Yours, etc,
JOHN REID,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Congratulations are due to the Government parties for their devious efforts in attempting to secure a Yes decision in the upcoming marriage referendum. Even the great Napoleon Bonaparte would be envious of such discerning strategy. The Yes result will be due in no small measure to the trickery of having a separate referendum on the same day concerning the minimum presidential age. Having this second referendum is a most cunning move in that it all but guarantees a huge turnout of younger voters, the vast majority of whom (the Government believes) will be voting Yes in the presidential referendum. The resulting presence of this cohort of younger voters at the polling booth will almost certainly swell the Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum. What a truly amazing stroke! – Yours, etc,
EUGENE O’CONNOR,
Navan,
Co Meath.
Sir, – I am a member of the 5050 group in Cork that campaigned for gender quotas in the selection of candidates in electoral politics. We had come to recognise that particular barriers were being placed by the “in” group, namely men, to the “out” group, namely women. These barriers could only be overcome by forcing the “in” group to share the playing field fairly.
As I see it, the same argument holds true for the reduction in the age at which citizens can stand for president. Age should not be a barrier. If the candidate is too inexperienced then the electorate doesn’t have to vote for them. I think a majority would be against an upper age limit for presidential candidates.
Let us stop creating unnecessary barriers to people who want to participate as candidates in our democracy. – Yours, etc,
Dr COLETTE FINN,
Glasheen,
Cork.