Sir, – There are so many good reasons to keep the Seanad, but looking closely at the Seanad Reform Bill published last week there are even better reasons to keep it and reform it. Gender quotas as a concept aren't everyone's cup of tea, but as a feminist I welcome the idea of well-balanced gender representation. I didn't graduate in an Irish university so I don't have a Seanad vote and therefore strongly welcome the proposal to open the vote to all, island-wide.
Last, but not least, I have Irish family and friends abroad who hope some day to return home when work is here for them; in the meantime, however, a vote from wherever they are allows them to keep connected in the shaping of our value-rich democracy. “Open it don’t, close it” is right. – Yours, etc,
RACHEL MATHEWS-
McKAY,
Park Avenue,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.