Madam, - Laura Egar (May 2nd) states that "ignorance is bliss" with regard to students who complain of being disenfranchised. If this is the case may she take a break from Nirvana to allow me enlighten her? As a postgraduate student five years ago, I found myself disenfranchised like most of today's students. I had returned to full-time third-level education and was unaware of the precise polling date until a few weeks before the election. Not only had the Taoiseach chosen a weekday, but he had chosen a date in the middle of my exams.
As the polling date had remained a mystery for so long I was unable to foretell if I would be residing in Cork (where I was registered to vote at that time), Limerick (where I was studying) or elsewhere (depending on job opportunities). Though I enjoy the right to vote, my priority was to get through the exams. Travelling to vote was not an option. Neither was predicting a "dawn raid on the Áras" and envisaging where I would be living when such an event occurred.
When Mr Ahern visited the University of Limerick in 2002 I was amused by the "Bertie Mugabe" banners. It is disappointing that those banners are as relevant today. - Yours, etc,
WILLIAM BURKE, Ballinteer, Dublin 16.
Madam, - As a writer, I know only too well the cost of ink and paper. I am appalled at the deluge of "literature" from various political parties which has arrived through my letter-box in recent weeks. This time, I have decided not to "bin" it: instead, I am retaining all such "literature" and, when the election is over, I will attempt to have it "costed" by a printing company. - Yours, etc,
PAULINE DILLON-HURNEY, Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Madam, - Laura Egar believes students should stop "whining" about not being able to vote. She claims any student living away from home may change their constituency or register for a postal vote. This is not the case.
I am currently studying in Germany on the Erasmus programme; I cannot vote by post because the student's "educational institution" must be "in the State". This is despite the fact that I will be spending less than three months of the new government's five-year term outside the country. In any case it would have been impossible for me to have completed the application form and send it to Ireland in the space between the Taoiseach's announcement of the election date on Sunday and the deadline for the application to the postal voters' register, which was yesterday.
I have learned a thing or two about democracy here: a French friend gave his sister power of attorney to vote for him last Sunday; and a Scottish student is able to avail of postal voting in the parliamentary elections tomorrow. And, as Patrick O'Callaghan pointed out, general elections here in Germany are held on Sundays.
As for the thousands of students studying in Ireland, it may be possible for them to vote, but it has certainly been made highly inconvenient. It is unlikely that the Taoiseach chose a Thursday in the middle of exam season without this in mind. - Yours, etc,
SARAH SHEPPARD, Mainz, Germany.
Madam, - Time to recall Dev's dash to the Park to get the Dáil dissolved in 1944, best described by James Dillon in his speech on the dissolution: "Well, it's a 'quare' picture of the gentleman in the motor car blazing through the night up to the Viceregal Lodge to get poor president Hyde out of his bed to sign the dissolution. . . and the president in his night-shirt tottering down the stairs to sign [ it]". Any similarities? - Yours, etc,
T O'CONNOR, Churchtown. Dublin 14.
Madam, - Louise Egar informs us students that we are ignorant in our complaints about having the general election on a Thursday, with postal voting and the possibility to change constituency. The fact is the Government has not widely publicised these options for students; while I am aware that they are available, I for one have not received a handbook or seen an advertisement on how one might go about it.
For final-year students it makes no sense to change constituency anyway, given that the likelihood that they will be in the vicinity for the next election is slim. The onus is on the Government to make voting as easy and acceptable as possible. - Is mise,
KATIE HARRINGTON, Sandyford, Dublin 16.