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Register of Electors

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (89)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

89. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the procedures in place for allowing Irish diplomats posted abroad to vote in elections here; if such persons are allowed to vote in general elections, Dáil by-elections, presidential elections, local elections, European Parliament elections and referendums; if such votes are cast in the person's home constituency for all the various forms of elections; if officials from his Department on secondment to international bodies abroad are entitled to vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37406/13]

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Written answers

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for legislation dealing with the registration of electors and the conduct of elections and referendums. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for voting by post in Irish elections by civil servants serving at Irish embassies, consular offices and permanent missions of Ireland to international organisations and, where relevant, by their accompanying spouses. This facility is provided for the purposes of Presidential, General, European Parliament and Local Elections as well as bye-elections and Constitutional Referenda. Qualifying individuals are deemed to be ordinarily resident in the State and therefore included on the register of electors at the address in Ireland at which they would normally be resident, but for the requirements of their duties. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for certifying that an individual is qualified under the Act. Each person completes his/her ballot at the relevant Irish mission abroad before returning it to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin for onward dispatch to the relevant local returning officer in the voter’s constituency. The postal voting provisions of the Electoral Act 1992 do not apply to officials of my Department seconded to international organisations.

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