Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will outline the Fianna Fáil position on this matter. We believe Irish citizens abroad should have a say in the political life of Ireland. We support voting rights for Irish citizens abroad for presidential elections and believe these citizens and our diaspora should be represented in Seanad Éireann.

With regard to Irish citizens who reside in the European Union, we believe we must find some way to ensure the rights derived from their citizenship - not just of Ireland but of the European Union - are respected. The European Commission proposal to make it easier for Irish citizens within the Union to retain their voting rights in Irish elections is a welcome development. However, the implementation of this proposal must be examined carefully before any rash decisions are taken merely in order to meet the concerns expressed by the Commission.

It must be acknowledged that Ireland is unusual in our increasingly globalised world in not allowing the majority of its overseas citizens any say in the political process. Members of the armed forces and the diplomatic services are able to vote in Dáil elections, while only NUI and Trinity College graduates can vote in Seanad elections. Beyond these exceptions, only those who are ordinarily resident in Ireland may vote. We believe it is vital for democracy that Irish citizens who are entitled to vote in our elections can vote. If people engage in the most important act of our democratic tradition, that of voting, this will enhance our democracy by consolidating the legitimacy of our parliamentary democracy.

The Council of Europe's report on Europeans living abroad advocates a broader sense of citizenship and nationality that embraces rights and responsibilities beyond a simple set of national feelings. Writing citizenship into the voting system rather than tying it to geography gives a deeper sense of what it means to come from a particular country. These citizen studies show that those living abroad do not vote radically differently from citizens based in their country of origin. Currently, approximately 115 countries and territories, including almost all developed nations, have systems in place to allow their citizens abroad to vote. This number is growing.

Even countries with high numbers of citizens abroad, such as Italy, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, have recently allowed their expatriates to vote. If we look at those countries and examine the systems they have invoked, we can learn from them. If Ireland is to embrace its citizens abroad, we must look at the logistics of how our voting system can be made work to embrace the opinions of these citizens. Sixty-five of the countries mentioned allow for external voting for everyone, while approximately 25 place restrictions on voting based on factors such as whether the person intends to return permanently or how long he or she has been away. As committee members know, citizens of the US can vote no matter how long they stay away, while citizens of Britain are disqualified after 15 years. Some countries, like France, reserve seats in their parliaments for citizens who live abroad, while others vote in the constituencies in which they used to live. Last week, we heard from European colleagues in regard to the methods they employ to connect the diaspora to the specific places for which they will vote. Other countries only allow for votes in national or presidential elections.

On the issue of a form, Fianna Fáil supports the idea of having a permanent, independent electoral commission which would be in charge of running all elections and referendums. I would like to see the Government set up this kind of commission immediately. The electoral system can be significantly improved and, as politicians, we must embrace change in this regard. With few exceptions, polling is carried out in the same manner today as it was 90 years ago. Much has changed in those 90 years and our voting procedures should change also. We should not be afraid to embrace new ways of doing things in this regard, if that results in greater participation and an enhanced democratic process.

Voting procedures are not the primary reason turnout in our elections is lower than in other countries, but voting should certainly be made more accessible. Fianna Fáil has made a number of proposals in this regard in its policy document, Real Political Reform. These proposals include ideas such as a review of Article 16.4.1° of the Constitution, which contains the requirement for polling to be, as far as practical, on one day. This should be amended to allow for a more flexible approach. We would support a standard polling procedure as found in some parts of Europe, where polls are open on Friday and Saturday. Counting could then take place on Sundays. The predominant model of voting should remain voting in person, but greater flexibility should be allowed for casting a ballot in advance or through our embassies abroad. There is already provision for this for citizens who live on our islands. This provision could be expanded to include our embassy network, in order to allow Irish citizens abroad to vote.

Fianna Fáil agrees with the European Commission recommendations that in instances in which member states' policies limit the rights of nationals to vote in national elections based exclusively on a residence condition, member states should enable their nationals who make use of their right to free movement and residence within the European Union to demonstrate a continuing interest in the political life in the member state of which they are nationals, including through an application to remain registered on the electoral roll, and by doing so to retain their right to vote. We believe this recommendation could be facilitated through our embassy network within the European Union. It would also ensure that Irish citizens living and working outside Ireland but within the European Union would register with the local embassy. The register should be required to be updated on an annual basis. Citizens seeking to vote from abroad should be obliged to select the constituency to which they have the closest connection. This is important to prevent fraud and would act as a control measure. Nonetheless, Fianna Fáil accepts that all relevant applications could be submitted electronically. We also accept the European Commission's fourth recommendation, that member states inform citizens abroad by appropriate means and in a timely manner about the conditions and practical arrangements for retaining their right to vote in national elections. Again, this would have to be facilitated through our embassy and consular network.

Fianna Fáil is broadly supportive of the recommendations outlined by the European Commission and hopes the Government will use this opportunity to implement a reform of our electoral system which will broaden participation, establish an independent electoral commission and, for the first time, grant substantial voting rights to all our citizens within the European Union, and consider extending this right to citizens further afield.