Madam, - Usually after an election we say, "The people have spoken". But this time the people have roared. - Yours, etc.,
KATHRYN MULREADY, Calderwood Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Madam, - Now that Sinn Féin has achieved notable success in the local and European elections, perhaps Gerry Adams's acolytes in their new public service roles will use their elevated influence to call on the IRA for a full and unabbreviated end to armed violence, punishment beatings and racketeering. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL CULLEN, Albert Park, Sandycove, Co Dublin.
Madam, - As a South African national resident in Ireland I was eligible to vote in the local government election only. I was registered as such and received my polling card. On presenting my card at my local polling place in Rathmines, I was handed three ballot papers - for the local government election, for the European Parliament election, and for the referendum. At no stage was my identity checked. The voter's roll was not even scrutinised to verify exactly what poll I was eligible to take part in. I therefore had the opportunity to vote in the European Parliament election as well as in the referendum.
I understand it is quite normal for voters to undergo no identity checks in this country. May I suggest that this is an utterly reckless practice, making the electoral system vulnerable to fraud? I am not suggesting that the past election was not free or fair, only that it can be quite easy to manipulate the results if there are no identity checks.
Much has been said in the European press about the fairness of elections held in Africa and other parts of the world. How well would Irish election practices would stand up to international scrutiny? - Yours, etc.,
LANCE SMITH, Temple Park, Dublin 6.