Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It could be more when one considers the number of recent emigrants to the United States and the United Kingdom. If one went as far back as the American Civil War and so on, it would have a huge impact on the voting system. There are difficulties in that regard.

With regard to Northern Ireland, an all-island system would be slightly different and it might be possible to come to an arrangement in the future as to whether representatives for Northern Ireland should be separately elected to the Seanad or whatever the case may be, owing to the proximity of the North, notwithstanding the history between both parts of the island and between us and our next-door neighbour, a relationship that has improved considerably in recent times.