Sir, - T. O'Connor (June 25th) takes issue with me on the subject of the university seats. He suggests that I fail to "discuss the rationale of the university seats per se". I rather thought I had.
He complains that none of the sitting senators "is engaged in university teaching, research or administration". Strictly speaking, this may be true, though I would claim quite extensive experience in all three areas throughout my career. However I don't believe such qualifications should be necessary to stand as a candidate in the university constituencies. To make such a background a requirement would be unnecessarily to narrow the scope of the election and certainly would be regarded as "élitist".
As it now stands, any Irish citizen can present himself or herself as a candidate as long as he or she can persuade 10 graduates in good standing on the electoral register to support their candidacy. The university senators represent not merely the university but its graduates and their interests. I believe the record will show that in recent years, especially in the passage of the various pieces of university legislation, the college's representatives in the Seanad more than justified their existence in this area.
Mr. O'Connor goes on to complain that the poll in the last election was 43 per cent for Trinity and 37 per cent for the NUI. This is not a bad showing, bearing in mind that many of the voters are dispersed overseas and that graduates throughout their careers frequently change address without notifying the Seanad Electoral Office, which in the circumstances does an extremely good job of maintaining an accurate register.
I am glad to see that your correspondent is not utterly opposed to university representation and makes some interesting suggestions for amendment in this area to make the constituencies more inclusive.
I very much hope that the incoming Seanad will address this issue with the seriousness it deserves in the context of an overall review of the function of Seanad Éireann. - Yours, etc.,
Senator DAVID NORRIS, Seanad Éireann, Dublin 2.