Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

There is no reference anywhere in the Bill to the "presence of any person in the State" or to "co-habitation in the State". Accordingly, the amendment simply has no effect. Persons working abroad in the service of the State are likely to retain their domicile for the purposes of the Bill. Anybody working for the State abroad does not normally change his or her domicile, which is very difficult to do in any case. Staff on a foreign mission on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs, for example, would be regarded under this legislation as being domiciled in the State even though they are living and working abroad.

See this speech in context