EU Affairs Committee to continue discussions voting rights

14 April 2014

Timmy Dooley TD of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle Member Lynn Boylan and Indepenent TD John Halligan will address the Committee. 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.

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. Last week, we engaged in a fruitful exchange with Ambassadors from four other EU Member States on the extent to which their electoral systems accommodate citizens living abroad. Tomorrow, we will hear the distinct perspectives of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and an Independent TD on the issue.  ”

The meeting takes place tomorrow Tuesday 15 April at 2 pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000. Public proceedings 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