Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm nach bhfuil an Rialtas in aghaidh an Bhille seo. I am very pleased that the Government is not opposing this Bill. That is positive, as is the launch of the diaspora policy to which the Minister of State referred. If I am correct, this is the first concrete, positive response from the Government in respect of the decision of the Constitutional Convention. We have waited some time for this. Indeed, I and some of my colleagues questioned An Taoiseach very consistently to try to establish the Government's view on the proposal from the convention that the franchise for the presidential election be extended to citizens resident outside the State, but the Taoiseach fairly resolutely refused to give an on the record position or view on that recommendation. I hope we can take it from the decision not to oppose this Bill that the Government views that recommendation in a very positive light, and that is welcome.

It is very unfortunate, however, that the Government did not move on this matter itself in response to the Constitutional Convention. I think it a great pity that these matters will not be put to the people by way of referendum during the lifetime of this Government. I regard that as truly a wasted opportunity. I do not say that to be adversarial for the sake of it but because I believe that the diaspora, the global Irish community, is a huge asset to this country. In the course of this debate I heard several Deputies articulate the drawbacks and the technical and practical difficulties the Government envisages in allowing an extension of the franchise. I hope people do not take a myopic view or become blinded by what they perceive as challenges and miss the bigger picture. I am sure the Minister of State will remember the summit that was held a number of years ago at Farmleigh House. Some of the big hitters from around the world were invited, not least from the United States of America. Our message to them at that stage was that we were in deep economic trouble and we needed their solidarity and assistance. That was fair enough but it cannot always be one-way traffic. It strikes me that if we were thoughtful, inclusive and a bit smarter in terms of our global community, it could only prove to be a huge positive for this country, socially, culturally and economically. There are massive dividends that can realised.

The Minister of State is absolutely right to say that the franchise issue is not the only diaspora issue. She is correct in that, and issues of welfare, for instance, for the Irish in Britain and further afield, still loom very large and could do with greater resources. The franchise issue is not the only issue but it is a very big one. Anyone who travels to Britain, the USA or Australia and talks to members of the diaspora, whether they are recent emigrants or families who have lived outside the home country for generations, will be left in no doubt that the franchise is a very big issue. Needless to say, for Irish citizens living in Ireland, the extension of the franchise is critical. The Good Friday Agreement recognises identity in its fullness, in an inclusive manner, as Irish, British or both, which is the case for some. The extension of the right to vote in presidential elections would be a further development of and building on the peace agreement and a recognition of the whole of the nation by giving all Irish citizens living in Ireland a stake in a key democratic institution and constitutional office.

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