Madam, - The Taoiseach has told the Dáil he was embarrassed by the fact the we did not have an electronic voting system when he watched the French election results come in within two hours. He should be embarrassed instead by having demonstrated once again the uncanny inability of his Government to get the details right in any matter concerning electronic voting.
In fact, electronic voting was available only for approximately 1.5 million of the 44.5 million French electorate, so this can hardly explain the rapid results. Could it be that he has overlooked the more obvious explanation: that this was a simple, straight count carried out locally at each bureau de vote rather than after transfer to counting centres? - Yours, etc,
PETER O'NEILL, Llewellyn Park, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says that he is embarrassed by the lack of an electronic voting system; well I am embarrassed by the Taoiseach. - Yours, etc,
PAUL REDMOND, Colthurst Rise, Lucan, Co Dublin.