Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this legislation, which is long overdue. The Bill recognises that inequalities still persist for our island communities when they exercise their democratic right to vote. This representation has been made to me and many other Deputies in constituencies with island communities, including those in counties Mayo, Galway and Sligo.

The statutory provision the Bill seeks to amend is archaic and no longer fit for purpose and the law needs to move with the times. It is old-fashioned and represents a totally unacceptable infringement on the rights of island communities to exercise their democratic right to vote. That we would force some communities to vote earlier than everyone else because we think it will be more convenient for a certain few, although there is really no apparent good reason for doing so anymore, cannot be allowed to continue. This Bill represents an opportunity to make that change.

Why did we have the provision in the first place? When it was first introduced, we did not have the strong transport links we now have. Technology was a lot poorer and communications were a lot weaker and it was more difficult to ensure that the boxes would get to the mainland to be counted on the same day as everyone else's votes. That is no longer the case. Vast improvements in communications and transport now ensure that we can get those votes to the mainland to be counted at the same time as every other vote.

We need to consider the negative impact on those communities in this situation. I have already mentioned the clear inequality: they are being treated differently to those living on the mainland. That is obvious. It is disrespectful to island communities that we would treat them this way. Let us be honest: probably because their numbers are quite few, their voices may not have been heard or listened to well enough in this Chamber in the past. Thankfully, Deputy Ó Cuív has given a strong voice to island communities for years. We were the only party in the 2016 election to provide a policy for island communities.

It is also important to recognise that these communities, when they vote a day or two before everyone else, are effectively excluded from the political debate for those last couple of days. Those last couple of days are crucial. That is when people make their minds up, when the debate intensifies and when people really focus on what they want from their candidate or political party. We are precluding those island communities from participating in that vital last debate.

As Deputy Ó Cuív has also pointed out, Friday voting has become the norm, and rightly so. It presents an opportunity for those living and working away to vote. Many is the time I travelled from where I was living back to my community in Mayo to vote. I never moved my vote. Many of those living in island communities work or study on the mainland. It is often not possible for them to go back to vote on a Wednesday or a Thursday, so we are making it extremely difficult for them to cast their vote, and unnecessarily so. Deputy Ó Cuív has already pointed out that there are many island communities such as those in Cork and Donegal whose votes are cast on the same day as those on the mainland. I do not see why this cannot be extended to all of the island communities along the west coast and beyond.

As I mentioned, transport and communications have improved. We need to recognise that we live in a more modern and progressive country and one that can facilitate voting on the same day as that of those on the mainland. We also need to send a clear message to island communities that we value their way of life and that we want to respect, maintain and support it. This has been sought for many years. They want to be treated the same and they should be treated the same. They are the same. They are as equal as any of us regardless of where they live.

Fianna Fáil remains a fierce defender of our islands and recognises the immense cultural value they bring to our nation. Living in these geographically remote locations brings a set of unique challenges. From dealing with some of the islanders off the coast of Mayo, I know that even simple things such as waste collection, transport to and from school and all the things that we take for granted when we live on the mainland are difficult for those living in island communities. They require supports, but they are hugely resourceful communities that never complain. They help themselves more than some people living in mainland communities. They very much appreciate all of the assistance that they do get, although in my view they do not get enough. They recognise that their numbers are few and in some communities are dwindling and sometimes it can be very difficult for them to have their voices heard and to ensure they are listened to in this Chamber.

The Bill will go a long way towards telling these communities that we care, that we listen and that we are interested in passing legislation that benefits island communities and helps them to maintain their way of life and stay as residents on those islands. If the day ever comes that those communities vacate those islands, we will be the ones that are sorry. I reiterate my support for the Bill and hope that we get cross-party support from around the Chamber because this is good legislation.

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