Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

No, we are not running into difficulty here; we are going directly to a specific question. The point is that the Taoiseach has reflected on the important role and the potential of involving the diaspora more in problems currently besetting us. Is any consideration being given at this point in time to a constitutional referendum on extending the rights of participation to Irish citizens living overseas - with more and more of them in that situation over the past 12 to 18 months by virtue of forced emigration - so that people would have the opportunity, as is the case in many other states at least for a defined period of time, to participate in the electoral process in their home country? Is the Government giving any consideration to such a proposal, one that I would very much welcome.

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