asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to introduce legislation to facilitate EC nationals living in this country to vote in general elections, to Dáil Éireann.
Written Answers. - Extension of Franchise.
534.
Section 5 of the Electoral Act, 1963, as amended by section 2 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1985, extended the right to vote at Dáil elections to British citizens resident here. It also provides that if the Minister for the Environment is of the opinion that the law of a member state of the European Community enables persons who are Irish citizens resident in that country to vote at elections to that member state's parliament on the same basis as the citizens of the member state itself, he may by order extend the right to be registered as a Dáil elector to citizens of that country resident here. No such order has been made and at present no member state other than the UK extends the right to vote at parliamentary elections to Irish citizens.