Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I am prepared to concede the point, which is a minor one, I am certain the issue will be addressed in the context of the Government's response to the recommendations made by the Constitutional Convention. I will nail my colours to the mast and state that I fully support the right of members of the diaspora to vote in presidential elections. As to the wider issue of how to deal with the diaspora in other elections, I have a problem with the proposal to extend the franchise that far. As the Minister of State will be aware, the question of whether to afford the diaspora the right to vote is not new. It is an old political chestnut that has been tossed around for the past 30 years. All sorts of lobbies have emerged over the years, particularly in the United Kingdom, seeking a vote for Irish people living abroad. I distinctly remember a point made by the former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dick Spring, that under our proportional representation system, he would hate to have to wait for the result from the last box of votes from Boston to decide the final seat in Kerry North, as his constituency was then known.

Given that the diaspora numbers approximately 70 million people, the decision on how to address the issue of enfranchising Irish people abroad is a considerable problem. I do not believe it would be possible to do so under the current system, except in the case of presidential elections. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence in allowing me to stray a little from the point.

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