Laura Harmon (Labour)

I also extend my sympathies to the family of the late Michael Calnan, a former Labour councillor and Senator. He was also a cousin and mentor to the former TD and Senator Michael McCarthy. I extend my condolences to his family, including his daughter, Julie, and his son, Michael.

I will also raise the issue of presidential voting rights. We have a very important election on Friday. We hope that there will be a high turnout in that election. The President of Ireland represents all Irish citizens across the world and those who identify as Irish, no matter where they live. It is a missed opportunity that citizens in Northern Ireland and those living across the world will not be able to cast their vote on Friday. We had a citizens' assembly on this issue and the vast majority of its members voted in favour of extending the franchise to citizens abroad. Over 150 countries around the world facilitate their citizens abroad to vote in elections. We are very much an outlier in that regard. This needs to be looked at and put in place before the next presidential election in seven years' time. It is a missed opportunity that it is not going to happen on Friday. As I have said, we hope there will be a high turnout for the election.