Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the recent publication by the Government of the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill 2019 to pave the way for a referendum allowing Irish citizens living abroad to vote in presidential elections. We are nearly there. Many of us have waited 15 years, if not more, for this referendum to be put to the people. While I do not want to pre-empt any formal announcement from the Government, most of us who were advocating for this change recognise that we may have to wait a little longer before the question is put.We have had many referenda in this country that have ended up being debates about issues far removed from the subject of the referendum. We do not want these errors repeated with this vote.

Brexit uncertainty and the looming Brexit deadline of 31 October make the prospect of a campaign in advance of a previously earmarked November date a distraction. Brexit has the potential to become wrongly interwoven in a referendum campaign that should be about empowering our diaspora community, expanding our global reach and broadening our nation's identity. For this reason, I would support a short delay in the holding of this referendum and the Government would be wise to provide for such a delay. We have the legislation in place and we are ready and ambitious for our country. I firmly believe the Irish people want to harness and support their emigrant friends and families so that they too can have a say as to who sits at the head of our State.