Referendum risks

I READ with a sigh of relief that the proposed legislation on child protection may not need to go to a referendum. Given recent events, I would be fearful of putting such an important issue to an electorate who cannot see beyond local self-interest and an irresistable desire to give the government of the day a bloody nose.

The irony of it all is that when it comes to the local and European elections next year, the voting patterns will follow the same routine they’ve done even since 1922.

Jim Mullins