Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As happened last week when we had members from other countries here, we have heard various accounts of what is happening across Europe and there are differences among all the presentations. I welcome those who have made presentations.

Deputy Dooley touched on the concept of "abroad" and I noticed in Ms Boylan's presentation a different focus in regard to the North. Deputy Dooley mentioned Irish citizens living within the European Union, which one might consider to be less "abroad" than other parts of the world. Do the witnesses believe there should be a difference between how Irish citizens within Northern Ireland or the European Union are considered and those in the rest of the world? Could this be a stepping stone to getting the vote for Irish citizens abroad?

What is the witnesses' view on European Union citizens in any European country, including Ireland, voting in our national elections?

Those of us canvassing in the local elections meet people who have EU passports but cannot vote here. What is good for the goose, etc. Deputy Dooley may have included the point about the difference between citizen and diaspora but I may have misheard it. A fourth or fifth generation Irish person may have another passport. Is it proposed that anyone with any links to Ireland should have a right to vote? I believe that was the Spanish position. Given that we have the largest diaspora in the world, is the right to be confined to passport holders? Ms Boylan mentioned the registration process which possibly answers that question.