Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We should start off by doing little things like that, acknowledging that this is a big issue and the lack of voting rights does frustrate and annoy people. I know it is not the intention of our guests but I want to make it clear that a person who returns from abroad has his or her vote straight away. If a nurse or doctor returns, he or she can go on the register straight away. Somebody who has been gone for less than 18 months can be on the register. I do accept that a lot of the people whom our guests have mentioned are affected and annoyed by this matter.

I wish to mention another aspect. It has amazed me how slow this matter has progressed over the years and I have often wondered why this debate never reached the level that it is at today. Due to the involvement of our guests with this committee and coming in here today this matter will get more of an airing. Why has this matter has not become a really big issue until now?