Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1568. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will extend voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad; the consideration given to this matter to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15874/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at presidential elections and that a referendum would be held to seek to amend the Constitution to give effect to this.
In order to inform public discourse on this significant policy change, an Options Paper was published on 22 March 2017 by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Options Paper sets out a broad range of options for the extension of voting rights, international comparisons, the estimated costs involved and related resource issues as well as many of the legal, policy, administrative and logistical challenges associated with extending voting rights to Irish citizens resident outside the State.
In addition, the Options Paper provided a basis for the discussion on voting rights which took place at the second Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin on 5 May 2017. This second Forum attracted significant attention with more than 220 individuals, representing over 150 organisations, attending over the two day period. The outcome of the discussions at the Forum will also inform the Government’s decision on a preferred option to be put to the people in a referendum.
The Government announced on 26 September 2017 that it has agreed indicative dates for the holding of referendums in 2018 and 2019, subject to the timely passage of Constitution Amendment Bills by each House of the Oireachtas. Included in the list is the proposed referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State which it is intended will be held on the date of the local and European elections in late May / early June 2019.
My Department will, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, bring forward an appropriate Constitution Amendment Bill on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State in good time for the holding of the referendum. The extension of voting rights at other elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State is not under consideration at present.
