Sir, - I am an Irish citizen living abroad but I believe, like John A. Harrington (letters, September 27th), that the transfer of voting rights for the Senate from the universities to emigrants would be a serious mistake. A sentimental attachment to Ireland, expressed from a distance of many miles and years, should be no qualification for participating in Irish government.
Ideally, voting rights should be conferred on the basis of residence: this would seem to be the best criterion for a positive interest in the running of the state. Anyone who has lived in Ireland for five years, regardless of citizenship, should have full voting rights. Conversely, Irish citizens who leave the State permanently should at some point lose their voting rights, in the expectation - that they would participate in the democracy of their new home.
Unfortunately, these ideals are very far from fulfilment. Irish citizens who leave the State are excluded from voting in Dail elections. Thereby, in the case of most destinations within the EU, they are excluded from the elections to the national parliament of any member State.
This is arguably the most import ant level of democracy within the EU. Until proper reciprocal agreements are made (such as with the UK), the responsibility for this exclusion rests with the Irish Government. The cosmetic measure of Senate votes should not be allowed to obscure this issue. Yours, etc,
Karl-Schoenherrgasse 7,
A 8042 Graz, Austria.