Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason persons who were born in Northern Ireland and who are now resident in the Republic could not vote in the recent referendum to amend the Constitution despite the previous constitutional guarantees that persons from Northern Ireland would be considered to be citizens of this State; and the steps he will take to remedy this situation in view of the fact that many such persons were denied their voting rights in the recent referendum. [24039/04]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The compilation of a register of electors is a matter for the appropriate registration authority in accordance with electoral law. To vote, a person's name must be entered on the register for the locality in which the person ordinarily resides. The person's citizenship determines the polls at which he-she is entitled to vote. Irish citizens may vote at all polls. British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections; other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections only; and, non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only. Electors are entered on the register according to their eligibility to vote based on information furnished by them to the registration authority.

Members of the public are encouraged to examine the draft register of electors, which is published on 1 November annually, to ensure that their details are correctly recorded and to request their registration authority to rectify any errors, including inaccuracies in their voting entitlements. If a person is not included in the register, he-she may apply for entry in a supplement to the register which is published prior to polling day at each election and referendum.