9 Aib 2014, 15:52
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will tomorrow continue its series of hearings into the voting rights of citizens within the European Union, when it meets with the Ambassadors of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia and Spain.
9 April 2014
The series of hearings are in response to European Commission criticism of Ireland for not providing for voting rights for its citizens living in other Member States in national elections. Cyprus, Denmark, Malta and the United Kingdom were also cited.
Addressing the Committee tomorrow will be:
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Cyprus to Ireland, Mr Michalis Stavrinos;
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Denmark to Ireland, Mr Niels Pultz;
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Estonia to Ireland, Mr Mait Martinson, and
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Spain to Ireland, Mr Javier Garrigues
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD says: “With cheap airfares and advances in digital technology, Irish citizens living abroad are probably more connected to events at home than previous generations of emigrants. It is not surprising therefore that many are calling for voting rights in a range of elections. As a Committee, we are keen to explore the issue of voting rights for EU citizens living in other Member States over a series of meetings.
“The guidance by the EU Commission, issued in January, poses a number of important questions for Ireland’s electoral system. Along with Ireland, Denmark, Cyprus, Malta and the United Kingdom were also cited for disenfranchising voters who have exercised their right to free movement in the EU. The Ambassadors from both Denmark and Cyprus will have an opportunity to outline to the Committee their respective countries’ responses to the Commission criticism. We will also be briefed on the electoral systems in Estonia and Spain, where voting rights are extended to citizens who live abroad.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday 10 April at 2 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. The meeting will be broadcast live on Oireachtas UPC Channel 207 and can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies: Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe, Timmy Dooley, Bernard J. Durkan, John Halligan, Dominic Hannigan (Chair), Seán Kyne, Dara Murphy (Vice-Chair) and Joe O’Reilly
Senators: Colm Burke, Aideen Hayden, Terry Leyden, Catherine Noone and Kathryn Reilly