Sir The recent decision of the Irish Government not to proceed with the proposal for the election of three members of Seanad Eireann by Irish emigrants is hardly a surprise. The fact that five emigrants voting groups opposed the proposition in varying degrees speaks for itself. The consultation paper issued by the Government was far too limited and deeply flawed, by its proposed restriction of the vote to Seanad elections. What Irish emigrants are asking for is the vote in Dail Eireann elections.
The issue should now be taken away from the All-Party Committee on the Constitution in its limited review of the function and role of Seanad Eireann, and be put back on the main Government agenda. Why is it that all the parties while in opposition promise the vote to emigrants, but when in power, sit on the issue?
The IBRG notes that emigrants from Northern Ireland retain the vote at home for 20 years, and that British people living in the Republic enjoy the same rights. Why was the Irish Government so keen to give British people living in the Irish Republic the right to vote in Irish elections, so that their position would be similar to that of Irish people living in Britain? Why doesn't it show the same consideration now for Irish emigrants by giving them the vote at home?
Much is said of how pro-European the Irish people are, yet when it comes to the vote for Irish emigrants, we see the emergence of the parochial little Irelander. There can hardly be justification for 166 seats in Dail Eireann, with one TD for every 21,000 people, unless the vote is extended to emigrants. We would ask Irish people at home, who have a broader concept of the Irish nation, to help put the issue of votes for emigrants back on the political agenda for the forthcoming general election in Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
National Chair, IBRG, 8 Archway Mall, London N19 5RG.