Madam, - I was astonished to read in your Editorial of July 30th that the election of Ronan Mullen to the Seanad was "a major surprise".
I voted for Ronan Mullen. After nearly four decades of abstention, due in large part to some discomfort with the elitist connotations of votes restricted to graduates, on this occasion I decided to use the Seanad vote to which I am entitled as a graduate of NUI. My reasoning was entirely straightforward. I am a pro-life Catholic; I believe that Mr Mullen represents my values; I have come to regard it as important that we have public figures to articulate these values. Clearly, many thousands of my fellow graduates agree with this position.
I am also a Trinity graduate, but could find no candidate on the TCD panel who comes close to sharing my values. I have watched, with increasing concern, the widespread and favourable media coverage accorded the likes of David Norris and Ivana Bacik. Can we rely on the professional integrity of your journalists to give equal coverage, from now on, to Mr Mullen's Seanad contributions? - Yours, etc,
JIM STACK, Moneygorm, Lismore, Co Waterford.
Madam, - Congratulations on your Editorial on the urgent need for Seanad reform. I look forward to reading it on your pages again in five years' time. - Yours, etc,
PAUL J SAMMON, Suncroft, Co Kildare.