A proposal for a Government response to the recommendations in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, that citizens resident outside the State and citizens resident in Northern Ireland be given the right to vote in Presidential elections, is being prepared in my Department. In line with the Oireachtas resolution establishing the Convention, the Government, when providing its response in the Oireachtas to the recommendations, would, if accepting the recommendation, indicate the timeframe envisaged for the holding of any related referendum.