Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Is it the intention to disenfranchise non-resident university graduates? I would like some clarification on this issue because that has not been fully thought out, but perhaps I am wrong. If it is so intended, that would be a pity. At present it is the only aspect of our electoral system that recognises the existence of our emigrants overseas. We have heard much in recent times about giving emigrants votes. The only emigrants who have votes are those who vote in the university elections. Part of the difficulty is that so few graduates have registered. Certainly graduates from the NUI panel have not been good at registering, Trinity College has been much more efficient in that on the day one graduates, one is given a document to sign. In the case of NUI, one has to make a second visit or request it to do so. Those are technical issues we should be able to overcome.

I recommend the report as good reading for students but even more so for those who are able to get to work and do something about it. I congratulate the Leader, the committee and those behind the scenes who did a great deal of the work and who have already been mentioned.