Sir, – If referendums suffer from three serious faults (Jane Suiter, Opinion & Analysis, April 15th), Irish referendums are very susceptible to being volleyed back at the people. This latter fault lies not in our votes, but in ourselves that we accept this. – Yours, etc,
MICHELE SAVAGE,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – Dr Jane Suiter shows little confidence in the ability of Irish voters to make informed decisions in the upcoming referendum: “Irish voters in referendums tend to make their decisions on the basis of shortcuts, by paying attention to the media and ultimately on what they think they know”.
I believe she greatly underestimates the discerning capabilities of the general public. As with most referendums there will likely be a low turnout, but I reckon those who do show up to vote will be well informed as to the facts, as well as all the pros and cons. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BELLEW,
Dunleer, Co Louth.
Sir, – The Yes side has been successful in more than two-thirds of the 30 plus referendums in the State and, where a government has failed to get its Yes vote, it has been prepared to re-run the matter at a later date.
Since most people have a propensity to be positive rather than negative, it is clear that a government wishing to get a Yes vote will word the referendum in such a way that maximises the likelihood of the middle-of-the-road voter swaying toward Yes rather than No. It would be a simple matter to reduce (if not eliminate) this inbuilt bias in the system. Instead of voting Yes or No directly on the referendum wording, voters should merely tick one of two options below the referendum wording on the ballot paper: “This proposed amendment should be enacted” and “This proposed amendment should not be enacted”. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.