Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé as seasamh inniu le aird a tharraingt ar cheann de na faillí atá á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas seo maidir le cearta agus ó thaobh na reifrinn atá geallta. There was extensive debate at the Constitutional Convention around a number of referenda that could have been brought forward. One of the recommendations is to extend the voting right in presidential elections to members of the diaspora. I am very disappointed that has not been brought forward. We now have a Minister of State with special responsibility for the diaspora, which is welcome. The Minister of State visits our emigrants abroad and gives them the impression that this is a priority for the Government but it seems to have been kicked to touch once more. It is very disappointing for all those people who will not be able to get home for Christmas, many of whom have had to leave in the last years and who certainly want to have some role in the way people are elected on the island of Ireland.

It is very important that we get clarification from the Government as to when it intends holding this referendum. I hear there are sources from inside the Government being quoted that there will not be any more referenda during the lifetime of this Government. Have the voting rights of the diaspora been kicked to touch completely?

Perhaps early in the new session we might have a debate on these issues, including how they pertain to people in the six counties who do not have a vote in the South, not just in the presidential election but also in the Dáil and Seanad elections. Seanad reform is planned and we need to make sure that we have representation for the diaspora in this House as well.

I second the amendment that has been put forward by my colleague, Senator Kathryn Reilly, on the issue of voting rights. I concur with her.