Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the fact the Taoiseach has set a time for consultation with leaders of the Opposition on the convention. It is important that they be open-ended discussions. The programme for Government gives some sense of the time it will last but clarification is needed on membership and participation by civic society, people from the Six Counties, the Unionists and the new Irish. The Taoiseach also has given a commitment to put on the clár an issue we have raised a number of times with him, which is voting rights for people in presidential elections, including passport holders from the North and among the diaspora. He is aware this is a big issue. I was in London over the past number of days and it was raised there. I support the Global Irish Economic Forum sponsored by the Government. I visited New York during the past month and I am aware that people feel robbed because citizens from other states who live abroad can vote in presidential elections in their home countries. Time is required and I am of the view that there is a need for more than one meeting. There must be a proper discussion and exchange of ideas on this matter. We can draw upon the work done by particular conventions and conferences in the past, although I accept that these entities did not deal expressly with the issue of the Constitution. I am seeking a clear commitment that the constitutional convention will be as inclusive as possible and that its membership will not merely be limited to people who live in this State. As well as people from the North, members of the diaspora from across the globe should be able to make a contribution.

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