Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Brexit Issues

Photo of Patricia RyanPatricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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899. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if UK citizens resident here will continue to be allowed to vote in European elections when the UK exits the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13529/20]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under Part II of the Electoral Act 1992, a person is entitled to be entered on the register of electors if that person:

- has reached the age of 18 years, and

- is ordinarily resident in a constituency in the State.

Subject to the age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote.  Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections (i.e. local, European, Dáil, and presidential) and at referendums.  Citizens of Member States of the European Union may vote at European Parliament and local elections.  Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.

In addition, under the Common Travel Area agreement, reciprocal arrangements are in place with regard to voting rights between Irish citizens resident in the United Kingdom and British citizens resident in Ireland.  In this regard, British citizens resident in Ireland are also eligible to vote at elections to Dáil Éireann as well as at local elections.

Under European Union law, only citizens of the European Union have the right to vote (and stand for election) in European Parliament elections.  As the United Kingdom legally departed the European Union when the Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020, British citizens residing in Ireland no longer have a right to vote at, or stand as candidates in, future elections to the European Parliament held in Ireland.

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