Always use your vote

I can understand the justifiable anger with which Gary Daly writes (Letters, April 26) but it is enormously dangerous to urge people not to vote.

We had a golden opportunity to get rid of the political drones, known collectively as Seanad Éireann, but we failed to do so, not because so many people voted in favour of retaining the Seanad but because so many people didn’t vote at all!

It is also nonsense to argue that by voting you are further endorsing the system. I doubt if, after the last general election, Fianna Fáil felt endorsed. Start right now by making it clear that you will not vote any candidate for the European parliament who does not issue a clear statement to the effect that, if elected, they will serve their full term unless prevented by illness from doing so. A small step but at least lay down a marker by putting an end to the use of the european parliament as a stepping stone to Dáil Éireann.

Brendan Casserly

Abbeybridge

Waterfall

Cork