Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
151. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward an amendment to the Electoral Act 1992 to allow United Kingdom nationals resident here maintain their right to vote in European Parliament elections following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17307/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCitizenship of the European Union is provided for under Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and is applicable to all persons who are nationals of the 28 Member States that currently comprise the European Union. EU citizenship is additional to, and does not replace, national citizenship. Under Article 20 of the Treaty, a number of specific rights are conferred on EU citizens, including the right to vote at, and stand as candidates in, elections to the European Parliament and in municipal elections in the Member State of their residence, under the same conditions that apply to nationals of that State.
Persons who are not nationals of Member States that comprise the European Union are not entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament. Nevertheless, the specific impacts of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union on European citizenship and the right to vote at elections of the European Parliament will ultimately be a matter to be determined within the negotiating process that will take place between the United Kingdom and the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty. Therefore, it is not possible at this point in time to state what arrangements will apply into the future between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the matter of European citizenship and the rights pertaining thereto.
I do not currently propose, therefore, to bring forward any amendments to section 9(b) of the Electoral Act 1992. That section provides for a person who has reached the age of eighteen and is ordinarily resident in a constituency, who is a citizen of Ireland or a national of another Member State of the European Union, to be registered as a European elector.
