Opinion

Referendums invariably will always be divisive if they are binary

New Zealand’s five-option referend um on their electoral system was much more rational, while Guam’s six-option constitutional plebiscite offered a seventh, blank option, so anyone with a different aspiration could (campaign and) vote for that –  complicated? Not at all – their invalid vote was 0.85 per cent.

Preferential voting would be even better.  It would allow the electorate to embrace pluralism, to celebrate the diversity of our species, to be, in a word, inclusive. Let the voters cast their preferences in, say, a five-option ballot. To win, to get the highest average preference, the protagonist needs lots of first preferences, a few seconds and thirds perhaps, but very few fourth and fifth preferences – Sinn Féin therefore would be well advised to campaign on the Shankill and likewise the DUP on the Falls, etc. to be, in the same word, inclusive.

If a voter casts only one preference, he gets his favourite just 1 point. He/she who casts two preferences gets their favourite two points (and second choice one point) and so on. So, those who cast all five preferences get five points for their favourite, four for their second choice, etc.  Thus the voting system encourages the voters to cast their preferences on all the options, to recognise the aspirations of their neighbours – to be, in that word again, inclusive.


And the system is fair. The difference is always one point. Those who abstains have no influence on the outcome. Those he who submit a partial list has a partial influence and those who submit full ballots have a full influence.

This preferential points voting – advocated by Cardinal Nicholas Cusanus in 1435, refined by Jean-Charles de Borda in 1774 (and used in Dublin City Council in 2013) – identifies the option with the highest average preference and by definition, an average is all-inclusive.

Admittedly, as Brian Feeney suggests – ‘Of course, border poll will be divisive, just as partition was divisive’ October 7) –  politics can be divisive. Indeed, some debates are very divisive as in Trump v Biden.  But they need not be so `s was demonstrated by the New Ireland Group in 1986 under the late Dr  John Robb – more than 200 people from Sinn Féin to the UPRG, participated in our People’s Convention. Furthermore, when preference voting is electronic – which we demonstrated in another cross-community gathering in 1991 – everything is very efficient.


So, today, both in the elected chamber and in any referendums you could have a multi-option, inclusive debate and then a preferential ballot.  In Stormont or Leinster House, the MLAs or TDs would use their smart phones, and just a few seconds later you’d have a result.  You could also have electronic voting in a referendum but only, I would suggest, from inside polling stations.

PETER EMERSON


Belfast BT14

Restrictions fall short of what is required

The half measures put in place by  last week fall far short of what is required. That it took this long for the assembly to meet is astounding in itself but for the outcome to be this vague is insulting to our citizens and the crisis we are facing. The assembly, much like their equivalents in the south, have purposely ignored all scientific and medical advice. Indeed, we are very far away from an all-island approach and as a result we play Russian roulette with the lives of our populations particularly our most vulnerable.

Pushing people back to work and children to school in August/September has led us to this point. Had we continued on a strategy of elimination the virus could well have been crushed as we have seen in countries like Vietnam and New Zealand.

What is patently evident is that the priority of the assembly, Westminster and the Dáil is the protection of profit before people. ICU beds in the north are almost at capacity and the health service continues to be stretched with our frontline workers facing increasing pressure.

With the closure of pubs and restaurants for four weeks the assembly must ensure all workers in this industry are given 100% of their wages to ensure that they do not face even more hardships or worries during this difficult time.

A full lockdown across the island is needed with the necessary financial support for workers and small businesses, restrictions to international travel and enforced quarantine for those arriving to the island as well as a fit-for-purpose contact tracing system working across borders. The failure to adopt an all-island policy continues to put lives at risk. An all-island approach to an all-island problem is the only solution and our governments must act fast to save lives and protect our citizens.

CHRIS BAILIE


Workers’ Party, North Belfast

Sword of Damocles written all over Republic’s budget

There we have it, another Dublin budget. Now we try to decipher what good it’s actually going to do. Deck chair arranging and talk of money being no object is the way to go, apparently.

Income for able-bodied citizens instead of actually working or producing has been tried –it is called communism and just look around at the countries where it has been used and see how that went.

What is happening here is far beyond the safety net of social protection and will only lead to economic collapse for everyone. The sword of Damocles is written all over this budget.

Work has to be created and is not simply an abstract concept. It is also vital to sustainability and the overall mental health of a nation.

Paschal Donohoe in his speech did manage to slip in the figure of a probable 320,000 unemployed just to add a little realism to the whole thing. So perhaps this is seen as balance. Covid-19 has become a too convenient excuse for flip-flopping all over the place.

ROBERT SULLIVAN


Bantry, Co Cork

Hedgerow desolation

From the beginning of September the law allows for the cutting of hedges. Can I appeal to farmers, landowners and gardeners to leave hedgerows alone as much as possible, to be mindful of the needs of birds, animals and insects to forage and collect their fruits, nuts and seeds. Hedgerows and ecological corridors are essential in maintaining biodiversity, so that all our creatures can have shelter, food and travel routes. On some roads, the blackberries are destroyed with those vulgar hedge cutters. They desolate trees, hedges and anything that comes in their wake. Surely there must be a kinder, gentler, more eco-friendly way of maintaining roadsides.

ANNE MARIE RUSSELL


Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh