Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It depends on whether one looks at it from an academic point of view or as a minor or major politician contesting any election. I am all for democracy, as is everybody, but I could not help but think of the phrase "Bono for President" because they would all be out with the diaspora looking for the vote.

On the issue of challenging the court on the right to vote, I understand where the witnesses are coming from but surely if somebody lives in a particular jurisdiction, they have the right to vote in other countries, whether in a local election or various other ones depending on the country one lives in, and not just because of the citizenship. In my view one cannot have dual opportunities. That is happening in this country where people move North and South for elections, and they are registered in both locations. That is illegal. The Chairman is smiling at me but that is the reality, and it works in terms of North and South and South and North. Surely we would have to have some sort of joined-up thinking within the European Union that if we allow members of a diaspora to vote, and they are living in, say, Germany, they cannot exercise the right in the two locations. They cannot say they have two masters.