asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to take the necessary steps to give reciprocity in voting rights to British citizens in the Republic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Citizens' Voting Rights.
10.
British citizens resident here have the right to vote at local elections and at elections to the European Assembly. Under the Constitution however, the right to vote at Dáil elections is granted only to citizens of Ireland. Amendment of the Constitution would require a referendum and there are no plans at present for a referendum on this subject.
At this time there is considerable discussion regarding amendment of the Constitution. Will the Minister state if the Government would favour the establishment of reciprocity? It is frustrating for citizens who live here for a period to feel they have no say in the development policies of the country. There is also the fact that our people have that right in Britain. Would the Minister favour this when the Constitution is being amended?
We have no intention of doing so at the moment. I wish to point out that British citizens resident here for five years can become Irish nationals if they apply at the end of that period. There is no pressure at the moment from those citizens with regard to voting rights. With regard to the point the Deputy makes with regard to Irish people having the right to vote in Britain, up to 1949 Irish people in Britain were regarded as members of the British Commonwealth. They are not regarded as aliens in Britain under the 1949 Act. They have the right to vote and they are not regarded as foreigners.
The Irish national in England has not to accept British citizenship in order to vote. It would not be right to expect a British citizen living here to accept Irish nationality before he is allowed to vote. Is the Minister saying that this matter has been discussed by the Government and that it is their conclusion that unless they accept Irish citizenship they will not be allowed to vote?
It is not quite true to say that since 1949 Irish people in Britain are British nationals. They are not regarded as foreigners. There was a further Act after the 1949 Act which specified this fact with regard to Irish people living in Britain. At the moment we have no plans to change the Constitution with regard to them.