Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today the joint committee will be discussing a communication received from the European Commission in recent months on the voting rights of EU citizens and their ability to exercise their right to mobility within the European Union.

The Commission criticised five countries, including Ireland, for failing to provide voting rights to their citizens living in other member states. Malta, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Cyprus were the other member states cited for disenfranchising voters who had decided to exercise the right to free movement. Previously, we have heard the views of a number of member states and we have also heard from political parties within the State. At today's meeting, we will hear two distinct views. The first contribution will be from Dr. Adrian Kavanagh of NUI Maynooth. Dr. Kavanagh is a leading expert on political geography. We will also hear from Ms Jennie McShannon, CEO of Irish in Britain, an organisation which looks after the needs of the Irish diaspora in the UK and which was formerly called the Federation of Irish Societies. The Irish in Britain organisation has been assisting in the campaign for the right of Irish citizens living outside the island of Ireland to vote in general elections.
Before we begin, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I note that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009 witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to a committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular issue and continues to do so, he or she is only entitled thereafter to qualified privilege in respect of his or her evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of today's proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
We had a brief discussion before the meeting commenced and agreed that the order of presentations would be Dr. Kavanagh followed by Ms McShannon.