Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
55. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for the announced amendment to the Constitution regarding voting rights of Irish citizens living outside the State in presidential elections. [13922/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recently decided to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to give the right to vote at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State, including Northern Ireland.
In order to inform public discourse on the significant policy change proposed, I published an Options Paper on 22 March 2017, which is available on my Department's website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/presidential-elections/voting-presidential-elections-citizens-resident. The Options Paper sets out a range of options available to give effect to the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution. It will also provide a basis for a discussion on voting rights, which will be one of the topics to be addressed at the Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin in May. These considerations will inform the preparation of the necessary legislation for a referendum.
If approved in a referendum, the extension of the franchise, as proposed, would require modernisation of the voter registration process and the introduction of arrangements to facilitate those eligible to vote to exercise their franchise from outside the State. Accordingly, the Government has agreed that my Department should now commence work to effect improvements in the registration of voters.
