Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I am sure they would play if they were good enough. I have no problem extending the vote for the presidential election across the Border but we must decide on the new nation in this country, which is not just pure Irish. Many of them have come here to live and many of them are married to Irish people with Irish children who were born here. They are told they are only allowed to vote in local elections, not in general elections or presidential elections. They are contributing to the economy. They have come here of their own free will and they are paying tax here. Their future is here and to tell them that we do not want them to vote but we want someone living in Sydney, whose grandfather was Irish, to have a say in our future is not correct.

The system of presidential nomination is not flawed. The only two bodies that are disappointed they could not nominate a presidential candidate are RTE and the Sunday Independent. Both organisations felt they had the right to do so. This system might not be perfect but the alternative may be far worse. Anyone who was serious about standing for presidential election was allowed to do it. A few people were sending e-mails around but I had never heard of them and I do not think they were serious. Anyone who made a serious pitch to be a presidential candidate is now on the ballot paper. That is democracy in action. If we let everyone run, it would be a total mess. I welcome this motion, even though I am not sure how it would pan out in the future. I would like to see citizens throughout the country having their say in the presidential elections. In addition, people in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan and perhaps Louth should have a say in what happens in Northern Ireland. I have been at cross-Border meetings where, when it came to voting, my colleagues on Donegal County Council lined up as Derry versus Donegal. There was no other agenda and other Members have seen that.