The incoming Irish government has been criticised after there was no mention in the draft Programme for Government of extending presidential voting rights to the Irish diaspora and people living in Northern Ireland.
In 2013 the Irish Convention on the Constitution recommended that Irish citizens living outside the 26 counties should have the right to vote in presidential elections. Voters will be going to the polls next year to elect Michael D. Higgins’ successor.
Speaking after the publication of the draft Programme for Government, Sinn Féin Economy Minister at Stormont Conor Murphy, who is also a candidate for the Irish Senate, called on the incoming government to “end the denial of voting rights” for people living outside the Republic.
“In 2013, the Constitutional Convention recommended extending voting rights to Irish citizens outside the state,” he said.
“Despite commitments made by successive governments and widespread political support, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have repeatedly delayed action, driven by political self-interest.
“The draft Programme for Government, which will form the basis of the incoming administration, makes no mention of the issue. This denial of democratic rights is unacceptable and must end.
“A referendum to amend Article 12 of the Constitution was agreed upon by the government in 2017, yet no progress has been made.
“The time for excuses is over. It’s long past time to deliver on this important democratic right for all Irish citizens at home and abroad,” Murphy said.
Another Senate candidate, New York-based Hilary Beirne, has similarly called for voting rights for the diaspora.
Beirne has described himself as an advocate for the one million Irish born nationals (20% of Ireland’s population) who live abroad and have no representative in Ireland.
