Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)

More than a decade ago, a citizens' assembly gave a clear recommendation to change the Constitution to give citizens outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections. Tugadh comhartha soiléir. Vótáil 78% de bhaill an choinbhinsiúin ar son cearta a thabhairt d'Éireannaigh atá ina gcónaí lasmuigh den Sé Chontae is Fiche. Sinn Féin promptly brought forward legislation that would give legal effect to this recommendation. The Government parties were all ears. We heard that they were open and were listening but year after year and Government after Government, we have seen no movement. Ní dhearna siad faic. Mar sin, ní féidir a rá go raibh siad ag éisteacht. I call on the Government to put an end to the foot-dragging, heed the advice of the citizens' assembly, support our motion and enact legislation.

It is absolutely nonsensical that Irish citizens in the North cannot vote for Uachtaráin na hÉireann. These people are no less Irish than you or I. They have Irish passports and they have contested and held presidential office, but they have been left behind by successive Governments since the foundation of the Free State, notably by Fianna Fáil, which still has the nerve to claim itself republican in the face of this blatant discrimination. Níl ciall ná réasún leis seo. How can we credibly call this person the President of Ireland when citizens from six of this island's counties do not have their voices heard? Anuraidh, d'ardaigh fear as Ard Mhacha Corn Sam Maguire i gcomórtas ar a dtugann muid the all-Ireland final. Bhí an tUachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUigínn i láthair ach ní bheadh cead ag an bhfear sin ná ag aon duine ó na Sé Chontae a bhuann craobh na hÉireann vótáil le haghaidh Uachtarán na hÉireann. Mar a deir Martin McGuinness, the people of Ireland are not partitionists. Tá sé ag éirí náireach dúinn mar Stát. Agus muid ag obair i dtreo Éire aontaithe agus Éire do chách, ba chóir go dtógaimis an chéim seo agus é sin a chur i gceart. Tiocfaidh ár lá.

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