Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for selecting this matter and also the Leader of the House for coming in to listen to the point I wish to raise.

As the House is aware, the EU constitutional debate is now well and truly under way. A commitment has been given to hold a referendum in a large number of EU countries. The British have already indicated that at some point in the future this commitment will be honoured, as it will be in this country. There are more than 36,000 holders of British passports in this jurisdiction who are included in our electoral registers. While they can vote in local and European elections, they cannot vote in Dáil elections or constitutional referendums. I ask the Leader of the House to request the Government to grant this group the right to vote in the forthcoming EU constitutional referendum because their fellow nationals living in the United Kingdom will be entitled to vote. Prime Minister Blair has already given a commitment that a referendum will be held. I do not believe we should exclude any group when it comes to endorsing the EU constitution which is not just a matter for each individual state within the European Union, but for all. If an EU member state wants to hold a referendum, all of its citizens should be entitled to have their say, regardless of which member state they live in.

Irish citizens who hold Irish passports and live in the United Kingdom are entitled to vote in all Westminster elections as well as referendums, although the tradition for the latter is not as strong within the United Kingdom as in Ireland. I ask the Government to consider this issue in advance of the EU constitutional referendum and debate. It would be an inclusive measure, extending to British passport holders who live and pay taxes in this State and are committed to it, the same rights enjoyed by Irish passport holders and nationals in the British jurisdiction. It is a matter of parity of esteem. No EU citizen who wants to participate in ratifying, or not as the case may be, the EU constitution should be excluded.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the procedures laid down, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I will relay what he said to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, whose Department has responsibility in this area. It is a fair point as this is an EU-wide debate. Referendums will be held in all but four countries. The matter is worth raising.