Madam, - In a democracy which supposedly encourages active citizenship, it is a complete ignominy that the Government chooses to leave it so late in the day to declare a date for the coming general election. Given the busy nature of lifestyles in modern Ireland, it is common knowledge that anyone organising an important event must give notice of it well in advance.
Sufficient notice of the date of the election is vital to enable people to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that they can vote. In particular, business people and holidaymakers who wish to exercise their vote need to know the date so they can ensure they are in the jurisdiction on the day in question. Equally, students and workers who live away from their polling districts without being listed on the postal voters' register, need to know the election date well in advance in order to arrange a trip home.
- Yours, etc,
MICHAEL JS MORAN, Goldsmith Hall, Westland Row, Dublin 2.