Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of people who have been forced to emigrate as a result of the financial crash and the continuing implementation of austerity by this and previous Governments means that it will be a very long time before they will have an opportunity to return home. Does the Tánaiste agree with her colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Diaspora, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, who, before visiting the United States last year, said he saw no reason we could not extend voting rights to those living outside the State in order that they could play a constructive, democratic role in electing future Governments?

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