John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have written down that last point. I will respond to the points raised by Deputy Paul Murphy first. The amendments are about treating British citizens the same as we treat those of other member state citizens in European Parliament elections. I understand there is a broader point that does not relate directly to these amendments about the status of British citizens having voting rights in the upcoming and future European Parliament elections. There is an historic aspect to this. There have been different time periods for British citizens than other EU citizens to get their nominations in order to contest those elections. The two amendments are essentially about that. I emphasise to the House that the reciprocal arrangements on voting rights for UK citizens in Ireland and Irish citizens in Britain in parliamentary elections still stand, regardless of this Bill or whatever happens over the coming weeks in relation to Brexit.

Deputy O'Sullivan's point is something that we do not say often enough. We have one of the most open systems. This is why I disagree with Deputy Paul Murphy's point that we should be democratic because we are very democratic when it comes to allowing people to vote in local elections. Very few countries have a system where people who are resident in a State can vote in local authority elections, which they will do at the end of May.

The case raised by several speakers was considered by the Attorney General. The advice is very strong that people who are citizens of a third country are not entitled to have a vote in a European Parliament election.

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