asked the Minister for Local Government what the position is concerning natives of Northern Ireland who take up permanent residence in the Republic and who wish to be registered as electors for local government and Dáil elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dáil and Local Government Electors.
67.
The Constitution reserves the right to vote at Dáil elections to Irish citizens. A native of Northern Ireland who is an Irish citizen and who is ordinarily resident here is entitled to be registered as a Dáil elector and to vote at Dáil elections. As regards local elections, the basic requirement for entitlement to vote is residence in a local electoral area, so that place of birth is irrelevant.
Does this apply to persons whose parents have been born in Northern Ireland since 1922?
A person born in Northern Ireland on or after 6th December, 1922 who has made a formal declaration of citizenship. Of course, the question of citizenship is a matter for the Minister for Justice.
In what way does this differ from a person born of Irish parents in Great Britain after 1922?
The question referred to Northern Ireland.
I am asking the Minister to differentiate between a person born in Northern Ireland of Irish parents who were born since 1922 and a similar situation in Great Britain.
That is a separate question. The question relates to natives of Northern Ireland.
Of course, it refers to people in Northern Ireland but it seems to be convenient for the Government to differentiate and decide that a person born in Northern Ireland of Irish parents since 1922 qualifies, by a toss of a coin, to be on the register of electors but this does not apply to a similar situation when a person is born in Great Britain.
I am calling Question No. 68.
I am asking the Minister for a reply. This is very important because the register of electors is being compiled at the moment and it affects many people who have come across the Border to live in the Republic.
If the Deputy is questioning the Minister for Local Government on the qualifications for Irish citizenship, I suggest he direct his question to the Minister for Justice who will give him a very full explanation of the qualifications necessary for citizenship.
Citizenship has nothing to do with local government elections.
We are talking about Dáil elections and local government elections.
My question relates to people transferring residence from Northern Ireland to the Republic, whose parents were born since 1922. Is that person entitled to register as a Dáil elector in the Republic of Ireland?
A person who is born in the North who came to live in the 26 Counties——
Whose parents have been born since 1922.
If the person is ordinarily resident in the 26 Countries and his parents were born after 1922 and have made a formal declaration of citizenship——
I am not asking about citizenship at all, that is a different department. I am talking about qualifications for electors on the register.
There should not be any difficulty if the person is ordinarily resident in the constituency in which he wishes to register the vote.
He is entitled to vote?
There should not be any difficulty.
I am asking the Minister.
The Deputy may not ask this question all evening.
The Minister will not answer it.
If the Deputy is looking for a concise reply in relation to a specific individual, I shall be delighted to give him information.
There are many individuals.
If the Deputy gives me the names of the individuals——
I should not have to disclose names; a person is either entitled to be on the register or he is not.
I am calling Question No. 68.
This is a very live issue at the moment as the Chair well knows and I am asking the Minister——
The Deputy has already asked it three times.
I have not received a reply.
That is not a matter for the Chair.
This affects many of the Chair's constituents.
If there is an open declaration of Irish citizenship and he comes to live here he is entitled to vote.
The Minister is telling us that a person whose parents were born in Northern Ireland after 1922 is entitled to vote.
Provided he makes a formal declaration.
Why should he make a formal declaration?
Would Deputy Harte please resume his seat?
It embarrasses the Republican Party at the moment.
What Republican Party?
The established Republican Party.