Sir, - If Bill Brennan (January 3rd) finds the concept of non-resident citizens being entitled to vote "strange", perhaps he should advise the governments and people of the following countries that their understanding of democracy is seriously deficient: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Algeria, Cambodia, the Philippines, Syria, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Russia, Croatia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, etc.
And if Mr Brennan is truly content with what passes for "democracy" in Ireland, based as it is on 78 per cent of citizens (Dail) and 4 per cent (Senate) being eligible to vote, exactly how low can those percentages go and the State still be considered by him a parliamentary "democracy"? - Yours, etc.,
Daithi O Colchuin, Campsie, New South Wales, Australia.