Sir, - I would take two important lessons from the recent election/referendum day. Firstly, I think it showed that never again should a referendum be held on the same day as an election. If we take our Constitution seriously, great care and deliberation should go into any changes. An election on the same day is a distraction, tending to dominate people's attention and media space. This was evident also in 1992 when a general election and no fewer than three abortion-related referenda were held on the same day, but obviously the lesson was not learned.
Secondly, the political establishment should make up its mind on what day of the week polls should be held. At the moment the perception is abroad that if governments think the student vote will help their case they have the vote on a Friday, and if they reckon it will go against them they hold the vote on a Thursday. The present inconsistency can only promote cynicism in the young, leading presumably to a continuation of low turnouts in future ballots. - Yours, etc.,
Ticknock Lane, Arklow, Co Wicklow.