The case for Sunday

THE Taoiseach’s insistence on a Thursday poll means many people will be unable to vote.

A weekend vote — preferably Sunday — would encourage the maximum turnout since most people are off work and many students would are home from college.

The French first-round presidential ballot had an 84% turnout last Sunday. This puts Irish turnouts to shame. Once a government ends, an independent electoral body should choose the election date (bearing in mind the constitutional requirement for it to take place “not later than 30 days after a dissolution of Dáil Éireann”) and this date should be on a weekend, preferably a Sunday.

Eoin Lettice

3 Nicholas Court

Travers Street

Cork