Sir, - Shortly we shall be voting for persons to represent us in the European Parliament. They send us leaflets to entice us to vote for them.
Here are seven major themes for the EU which have been much argued over in the last months and years, for and against.
1. The enlargement of the EU to include other countries; when and how.
2. The reform of EU institutions; representation of countries, voting procedures, etc.
3. A common defence policy and the military means to back it.
4. Admission and control of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
5. The harmonisation of fiscal policies between countries.
6. The euro; its value and the associated budgetary stability pacts.
7. The importing and use of GM, hormone-enhanced and other "unnatural" foods.
The leaflets received here from the three major political parties present their policies on these issues as follows:
Labour: None of these issues mentioned.
Fianna Fail: Issue 6 (the euro) mentioned, but no policy stated. No other issues mentioned.
Fine Gael: Issues 1, 2, 3 and 6 mentioned, but no clear for-oragainst policies put forward (except possibly for 3 - in favour). Other issues ignored.
Even the leaflet "Eurovote" from the European Parliament itself mentions only issues 6 and 7.
What sort of democratic farce is this? The major themes facing the EU are scarcely mentioned by the candidates, let alone are policies put forward. Public apathy is the result of this pathetic performance by the politicians, not the cause of it.
Let us hear from the politicians. Why are you seeking to be a member of the European Parliament? What sort of Europe do you want to build? Or is it that you're not the slightest bit interested in anything but the salary and the perks? - Yours etc., Michael Purser,
Strand Road, Killiney, Co Dublin.