Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to Senator Zappone and am glad she clarified her earlier remarks. I did not for one moment think that she was in any way motivated by a desire to stifle debate but it is important to clarify the context in which she made the comment. This is a drafting issue; perhaps the Senators' advisors did not take account of the point that I made, that there are parts of the world where there is no Irish embassy or consulate but there is a significant Irish population. Even if there is only one Irish national, why should he or she be deprived of the vote in the proposals they have made. That is the reason I raised the issue. If we get as far as Report Stage, perhaps this might be something they might introduce by way of amendment.