Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the first issue, vast resources have been devoted to helping the process. There are literally hundreds of people working in the process of examining and expediting applications for citizenship. Other countries have different processes for citizenship and they do not have the same appeals system which can include re-appeals and High Court injunctions. The Australian system is very effective and it does not have a waiting list. Persons who enter Australia illegally are thrown out so the system is always up to date and it is a very simple operation. Our system is far more humane and it seems at times that people are allowed appeal endlessly. It operates in a manner based on fairness, human rights and the Geneva Convention. I do not think we should compare ourselves with other countries. Major effort and resources are being put in to expedite the system so that people are not unduly delayed or frustrated in their applications. While there are problems — we all deal with them on behalf of people — the system is much better than it was.

The question of people exercising their democratic franchise is an issue of active citizenship and it has been raised in the plenary sessions and working groups. If people are involved, committed and interested, then they will have a greater stake in society and will be more inclined to vote. While I do not know what the task force will report on this, I feel it is a related issue. In other European countries and elsewhere there has been evidence of disengagement. People have withdrawn from community and resident activities. They have withdrawn from health, bridge, sports and recreational clubs. The same trend is influencing voting. The more people engage and involve themselves with society, the more it will help to increase voting participation. That is the theory anyway, but we will see what the working group has to say later next year.

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