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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Voting Rights.

Rory O'Hanlon

Ceist:

128 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment if he will permit citizens of all EU countries to vote at general elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13235/96]

Article 16.1.2º 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.

Section 8 of the Electoral Act, 1992, extends the right to vote at Dáil elections to British citizens resident here. It also provides for extending the Dáil franchise to nationals of other EU member states on a reciprocal basis. The United Kingdom is the only member state which extends the right to vote at parliamentary elections to resident Irish citizens. There is, therefore, no scope at present for extending the Dáil franchise to nationals of other member states resident in Ireland.

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