Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the extension of the franchise to overseas voters for elections taking place within the State. [41900/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In order to be able to vote at elections and referendums, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides.

Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors and who may be abroad on polling day - whole-time members of the Defence Forces; members of the Garda Síochána; Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses or civil partners; electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day.

I understand that the Convention on the Constitution recently voted in favour of recommending the extension of voting rights in Presidential elections to Irish citizens who are resident outside of the State, including Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the resolution of the Oireachtas on the calling of the Convention the Government will provide in the Oireachtas a response to the recommendation of the Convention within four months of the report of the convention being submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas and, if accepting the recommendation will indicate a timeframe it envisages for holding any related referendum. Proposals for change to electoral law will be brought forward in light of any decisions for change which might arise from this process.