Vol. 520 No. 4
157 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the position in respect of United Kingdom citizens voting in general elections here, particularly those who are 20 or 30 years resident here; if the situation for Irish citizens in the United Kingdom is different; if there is any bilateral agreement existing or being considered on the matter; and the reason historically we treat United Kingdom citizens less favourably. [16032/00]
Article 16.1.2WP extended char 1,14 of the Constitution provides that all Irish citizens and such other persons in the State as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at Dáil elections. The Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1985, extended the right to vote at Dáil elections to resident British citizens and provided for extending Dáil franchise to nationals of other EU member states on a reciprocal basis. To date, the United Kingdom is the only member state which has extended the right to vote at parliamentary elections to resident Irish citizens. The law in relation to the registration of Dáil electors, including the above provisions, is currently set out in section 8 of the Electoral Act, 1992.
