Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

If he does not mind my saying so, there seems to be a consensus between Deputy Halligan and Deputy Dooley that we will have the engagement of Irish citizens outside this country at the level of power – I say that with no disrespect to the Seanad, of which I am a Member – at which they will have the least say in what is happening in the country.

I would be interested in hearing what specific diaspora representation Ms Boylan has in mind and what qualifies as the diaspora. Does she mean Irish citizens abroad? Deputy Byrne asked the same question.

In terms of specific Northern representation, I might be behind the curve, but for the sake of argument, how many people from the South are represented in the Northern Irish Assembly? To what extent can we talk about parity of esteem? To what extent should we look at subsidiarity - in other words, that the people who are most affected by decisions are the ones who make the decisions?

When we talk about Irish citizens abroad, are we not to some extent moving away from the principle that the EU stands for, which is a community of interests? Does Ms Boylan suggest that we should give rights to Irish people resident in the EU? None of the witnesses said whether there should be a difference between Irish citizens who are resident in other EU countries and Irish citizens who are resident in the US, China, Japan or wherever else. To what extent is this about the European Union, our membership of it and our citizenship within the European Union, and to what extent is Ms Boylan talking about the interests of Irish citizens who live outside Ireland?

I am personally conflicted on the issue of nationhood. To me, moving towards more European involvement is about the community of the European Union and less about nationhood, but then perhaps that is my particular perspective.