Sir, – Regarding Grace Hughes's suggestion (March 21st) that Irish emigrants should have votes in elections and referendums in Ireland, I could not disagree more. I would love to be able to vote Yes to marriage equality in Ireland, but I don't live there. Neither do I have to bear the consequences of my decisions. I could vote in favour of a pro-austerity government and, given my current location, I would not have to experience the consequences of it.
Many Latin American countries give their emigrant citizens votes in elections. In Colombia, they have always voted for right-wing governments and generally for the continuation of a war they will never have to participate in.
It would be so easy for us to vote for governments whose policies we would never have to bear the brunt of. That I would not wish on anyone. – Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó LOINGSIGH,
Bogotá,
Colombia.
A chara, – Grace Hughes asks, from the Netherlands, where she lives, should she “no longer have a say in the political progress of my native land?” The answer to this question is, quite simply, no, unless Ms Hughes pays taxes in Ireland and is also resident in this country to live with the consequences of any decisions made regarding its political progress. – Is mise,
MUIRIS Mac GEARAILT,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.