Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Harvey. This is really interesting stuff. I have a few questions.

I refer generally to the reaction to the DeSouza case. Many people were gobsmacked by the ruling. There was a feeling of being held hostage to a citizenship to which one does not want to belong but which is imposed. The ruling has an implication for rights of access to various courts, tribunals and so on. When Professor Harvey says voting rights should be based not on residency but on citizenship, how would this work, given that Ms DeSouza, for example, has been told she is now a UK citizen? Is there an implication that if citizens living in the North and abroad had presidential voting rights, it would skew the vote?

Regarding the European seats, it is essential citizens in the North have a voice. Does Professor Harvey know how Europe views this? Are discussions taking place over there? I know that Martina Anderson, MEP, keeps the debate very much alive over there. We have two extra seats in waiting. There was at the time an idea that they should perhaps be devoted to giving a voice to the North. Is that still a possibility? One opinion is that at least one of the two seats should be devoted solely to representing the voice of the North in Europe as opposed to just having observer status. I am not sure how comforting that would be to people living in the Six Counties.

Approximately 250,000 people left this island during the most recent downturn. Unfortunately, this island has at times been known as one of tragedy and emigration. I refer to the extension of voting rights not just to presidential elections but to other elections, whether Dáil, local or whatever other elections deemed necessary, which is another conversation to be had. The fear might be that the memories of 250,000 people, most of them young, who were forced to leave might skew results in local or national elections because their votes may go to more left-wing parties, or what are perceived to be more left-wing parties. However, I believe they need to have a voice.

What are Professor Harvey's perceptions on the unfulfilled promises of the Good Friday Agreement? Obviously, we did not foresee Brexit at the time the agreement was drafted under a UK Labour Government. Since the Tories have come into power more recently on a platform of xenophobia and against migration, their co-operation or interest in resolving issues related to the Good Friday Agreement in the North has been called into question. There is a contrast with regard to ownership of the difficulties that need to be addressed. The Tories have no interest in addressing them except for their own ends and have no interest in the bill of rights we need for the entire island.

I have one more question. I participated in a debate on the European health insurance card in the Seanad about two weeks ago. While I am thankful the Government has proposed to bring in a card to cover citizens in the North, unfortunately people will have to load up the card and if anything happens abroad, they will have to pay for their treatment and then submit a claim to be reimbursed.

It is a move in the right direction but it is very disappointing that one might have to source anything from €500,000 to €1 million for repatriation and then come back, find one's receipts and send them in to the HSE for a refund, whenever that might happen.