Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 10, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"Report and review of European electoral register

9. (1) The Minister shall, within 30 months of the passing of this Act, initiate a report and review on the potential extension of the European electoral register to include Non-EU citizens resident in the State.

(2) Within 8 months of the initiation of such a report and review, the Minister shall lay the report and review before both Houses of the Oireachtas.".

I will speak very briefly because I am under time pressure, as are others. We had an opportunity to discuss this earlier. I thank the Minister of State for engaging on the issues. I regret that we were unable to come to agreement. This amendment simply asks that there be a report and review. It is asking the Government to look further into these issues. The Minister of State may not be able to accommodate the proposals I have put forward but I ask that he consider accepting the need for a report and review on this. I hope he will accept the amendment, which would give him space in the context of a review of the extension of the electoral register to reflect on various issues. If he is unable to accept the amendment, I hope that he might indicate that he intends to investigate these issues further and consult others across the House, particularly if we enter a period in which we may have a large cohort - 50,000, as mentioned by him - of UK citizens. These are adults living and working in Ireland who will be very much affected by EU laws and who feel disenfranchised from that process. This is why we need to examine all angles. I accept that the Minister of State has sought advice at this point. The amendment is intended to ensure that he will continue to engage and seek solutions.