Electoral Reform

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (890)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

890. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on extending of the electoral franchise to non-Irish citizens voting in referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37461/13]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Subject to age and residency requirements, a registered elector's citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote. All non-Irish citizens may vote in local elections; EU citizens may vote in local and European Parliament elections and British citizens may vote at Dáil, European Parliament and local elections. Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote in Presidential elections and referendums.

While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, I have no proposals at present to extend the current arrangements for voting by non-Irish citizens.