Sir, - It is curious that RTE should choose this particular moment to start becoming conscientious about election fairness. It would be interesting to know what the existing rules (if any) say, particularly regarding sitting candidates and potential candidates, and at what point exactly was it decided to activate them. Perhaps RTE might also like to let us know which potential candidates, sitting and otherwise, for European and local elections, have had "slots" or panel appearances since the beginning of this year.
RTE employs staff who are themselves unelected, and are unaccountable to the public in any practical way, but yet can have the potential for considerable influence on electoral fortunes.
It is, perhaps, time that that organisation partook, to some degree, of the openness that it (rightly) prescribes for everyone else in public life.
What I am suggesting is that its management of elections and referendums should have some external participation, and that its record of proceedings should be amenable to inspection by members of the public, and by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, which should be given a role for such occasions.
One would also like to see the Freedom of Information Act being applied to an organisation that has, arguably, a considerable influence over our thinking and, consequently, our lives. Such a project is, perhaps, another day's work. - Yours, etc.,
Donal O'Driscoll, Dargle Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.