Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Leader will recall that in the run-up to the St. Patrick's Day festivities at the Famine memorial in Philadelphia in March, the Taoiseach announced the very positive news that the Government would seek to hold a referendum to extend the franchise in presidential elections to our global diaspora and citizens in the North. The Government's option papers are being considered and it is intended to discuss the issue at the global Irish civic forum in May. Will the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, attend the House after the Easter break to update Members on where those options are and to set out the moves which have been made in terms of the practicalities of moving the issue forward? We are moving towards the weekend, and with the weekend that it is all across the country, in towns and villages and laneways and gravesides, we will remember the sacrifice of 1916. The Proclamation throws down a challenge to all of us, making special reference to the exiled children but also reflective of the country and the nation in its entirety. It is a very apt time for us to reflect on this issue and how we utilise this in a positive way to include citizens across the entirety of the country and across our global diaspora. I welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach. I welcome the moves that the Minister and his officials are currently undertaking. I wonder if the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, would consider coming in to the House to update Members in advance of the global civic forum as it has been a while since he has addressed us on this issue.