Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Maidin mhaith duit, a Chathaoirligh. Tá mé chun dhá ábhar gasta a ardú ar maidin. Hopefully, the Cathaoirleach will indulge me if I say a few quick words to commend the people responsible for ensuring that yesterday's 12 July events in the North passed off, by and large, without any major incident. That is down to a tremendous amount of work by community and political leaders, the PSNI, statutory agencies and officials from both Governments who are working very hard on the ground. I believe the Seanad can play a positive role in trying to show leadership and provide assistance and support to the Department of Foreign Affairs officials and to local communities who look to Dublin for leadership and support at some of these more challenging times. I ask the Leader, once the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is formed, if this is something that committee can consider in advance of next summer.

The second issue I wish to raise is a very positive one, which is important to me. I indicated very early on in this Seanad that I would be bringing this issue to the floor of the House and working on it as vigorously as I possibly could. The Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, announced yesterday that a referendum would be held next year to consider giving voting rights in Presidential elections to the Irish diaspora. I believe that is a very welcome and positive move. It is only right and proper that we enfranchise our Irish citizens who are living around the world and who have a very close affinity with home. As Senators know, the President is the President of Ireland and of the Irish people. I believe it is important that we all have the opportunity as Irish citizens to be enfranchised and to exercise our vote. It was something that was supported by the Constitutional Convention in terms of extending voting rights to Irish citizens not just in the diaspora but even closer to home in the North. Out of interest, I took a photograph of the inside of my passport, which, of course, is an Irish one and it states: "It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation." I think it is past time that we worked to ensure that becomes the case and that all Irish citizens across this island have a vote.