Sir, - I waited until voting on the referendum was over before expressing a strongly held view. I believe Ms Patricia McKenna did us a disservice in taking legal action that in effect prevents the Government from explaining in simple terms why they want to make a certain change to the Constitution.
As a result of that legal action the Government set up, at considerable expense to us taxpayers, a Referendum Commission which takes full-page advertisements (again at our expense), setting out in careful detail a balanced list of pros and cons. I am sure they believe they have done a good job, but ask any advertising executive who is likely to read half-a-page of closely typed minutiae, or be influenced, rather than confused, by it? I feel sure that many people, when they see such a clutter of arguments against changing a system that has served us for many years, are tempted to abstain, if not vote against.
No wonder, Sir, you introduced the phrase "Invisible Referendum", and full marks for giving us your interpretation of what it was all about. - Yours, etc.,
W. J. Murphy, Malahide, Co Dublin.