Preparing for the general election

Madam, – Sarah Carey (Opinion, January 27th) suggests that only Irish citizens paying tax in Ireland should be given a vote …

Madam, – Sarah Carey (Opinion, January 27th) suggests that only Irish citizens paying tax in Ireland should be given a vote in general elections. As a German citizen who has lived and worked (and paid tax) in Ireland for the past four years, I feel I should have a say in who should form the Government whose decisions directly impact on my life in Ireland. Surely Ms Carey would agree I have paid enough tax to be allowed to do so?

German citizens have the right to vote in elections in Germany, even if they live abroad and have done so for a long time. The postal vote is available to everybody with absolutely no administrative hassle involved, allowing you to vote in advance if you cannot be in your place of residence on polling day.

Admittedly, it is also the case that only German citizens get to vote in most elections in Germany – despite the large number of immigrants in the country. This leads to a situation where none of the political parties have a real interest in representing these groups in society. We are talking about taxpayers who contribute to their communities and the country they choose to live in.

Neither being Irish nor paying tax here seem to be good enough to get to vote. And tough if you are at the wrong end of the country on polling day.

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This is a country with a strange sense of democracy. – Yours, etc,

STEFANIE ENGLER,

Lyreen Manor,

Maynooth,

Co Kildare.

Madam, Yet again we approach a general election during which we will ignore the clear provisions of Article 16.1.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. Under that Article “all citizens . . .” are entitled to vote. It does not exclude citizens who happen to be out of Ireland on the day of the election. Yet, consistently our governments have relied on the xenophobia of the masses to negate the rights of those Irish in the Diaspora.

The Irish in the Diaspora have supported those at home for many generations and are now again vital to our economy, as both charity donors and “tourists”.

The reason for their exclusion is not too difficult to fathom; those whose minds and vision are broadened by experience and distance would quickly start to elect people who are capable of managing an organisation which has more than four million clients Are there any politicians who are honest enough to act honourably on behalf of their exiled relatives? – Yours, etc,

AIDAN WALSH,

Ashfield,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.

Madam, – The media are getting very excited about the prospect of TV debates between the party leaders, and already the reaction of the leaders to the idea is itself headline news. Micheál Martin says that the old ways are no longer right and that we need a new politics. I agree, and one of the old ways I would like to see the back of is that the outcome of a general election might be decided by a one-hour shoot-out on TV between the party leaders. Have we learned nothing from the last election when Bertie Ahern was deemed to have “swung the election by wiping the floor with Enda Kenny”? .

The forthcoming general election is far too serious for this kind of staged beauty contest. I would be more interested in the steak than the sizzle, and I look forward to the media keeping their heads and helping us make the right decision this time. – Yours, etc,

EDDIE MOLLOY,

Zion Road,

Rathgar,

Dublin 6.

Madam, – Is the proposed leaders’ debate as Gaeilge the one in which the electorate will be told the real plan is to not repay the bailout but that no one is to tell the IMF (or us Northern Irish)? – Yours, etc,

RONAN HAYES,

Bull’s Eye Park,

Downpatrick, Co Down.

Madam, – Micheál Martin demands debating privileges alongside the leaders of the other parties in Irish politics. Let him use his debating skills, of which he is so proud, door to door in Ballyfermot, Dublin Central, Finglas, Clondalkin, in Dublin, South Hill in Limerick, Knocknaheeney and Togher in Cork and debate with the real hard-working people whose lives he and his colleagues have destroyed. Then Mr Martin can turn his sights to Meath East and my door, where he and Ms Harney, et al, have destroyed mine, and I will debate with him. Leaders’ debates should be the last thing on Mr Martin’s mind. There is so much work to do within Fianna Fáil that it should keep him busy till 2016. – Yours, etc,

PATRICIA FEENEY,

Bourne Avenue,

Ashbourne, Co Meath.

Madam, – Considering that the economic health of the nation is the most fundamental question right now, affecting as it does every aspect of our lives, possibly the most relevant TV debate should take place between the financial spokespersons of all the five parties. How about it? – Yours, etc,

JIM O’FARRELL,

Ballybrown,

Clarina, Co Limerick.