Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish first to recognise the role of the Deputy in building that connection with the Irish diaspora throughout the world when he was Minister of State with that brief. He made a significant impact. He and I discussed many times the commitment that the Government has made to extend voting rights to Irish people living abroad for presidential elections. I am still committed to this. It is part of the programme for Government. It requires a referendum of course, which is not straightforward. In some ways, we have been prevented in the past number of years from holding referenda through the Covid period, which has made it more complicated because we have a series of referenda that the Government wants to deliver between now and the next election. This is one of them. I do not have a date for the Deputy but I confirm that it is my understanding that the Government’s intention is still to hold a referendum in this space before the next election.

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