Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to acknowledge the Government's remarks at the weekend that it intends to hold the much awaited referendum on extending voting rights in presidential elections in, it is hoped, May next year. This will be an important debate. I will not refer to the ongoing presidential election campaign. The office is representative but not elected by all of Ireland's citizens. It will be an opportunity for us to initiate a further discussion on the kind of Ireland we want, namely, a fairer and more equal Ireland, as well as one that cherishes, empowers and enfranchises all of our citizens.

The Minister is sincere on this matter. I believe he has worked diligently with officials on preparing the groundwork for this referendum. This will go some way to creating that more equal and representative society for which we long. It is a campaign, a referendum and an issue that is not one, however. To my knowledge, all of the parties represented in this Chamber, as well as those Members who do not belong to any particular party, are supportive of the extension of the voting right to citizens in the North and those who qualify among the diaspora. There is a longstanding desire for this through the Constitutional Convention, as well as the natural outwork flowing from the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

There is merit on that basis for the Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, to update the House on plans for that referendum to ensure we can get a better understanding and insight into the Government's option papers. I remind all of my colleagues across the House that we will have to go out and win this referendum. It will afford us an opportunity to have a frank, good, positive and worthwhile discussion and debate about how we want to see Ireland and the Presidency moving forward.