Sir - I think that it is lamentable that the Government is tied by the McKenna Judgment and is not allowed to advise the public on RTE which way to vote in the two forthcoming referenda. If I had voted the present Government in, I would expect them to be able to tell us which way it wanted us to vote and the reasons why. One would not think much of a friend or colleague who consistently would not give an opinion one way or the other when a judgment was called for or a decision was required. In fact the colleague would not be able to work effectively as opinions and decisions are required constantly.
The McKenna Judgment severely restricts the Government when it should be giving directions to the people on the two forthcoming referenda. RTE is also severely affected. It is refusing to give any broadcasts to political parties as it has to give equal air time to the two sides in the debate, a difficult task as virtually all the political parties call for the same outcome. The McKenna Judgment is one of the worst judgments to come from the Supreme Court in the last few years. - Yours, etc., John Healy
Woodpark, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16.