The Irish Times view on diaspora voting: broaden the franchise for presidential elections
should be allowed to vote in presidential elections
has lingered for too long in the realm of deferral and indecision. This is despite previous commitments on the matter and the importance of the office for many Irish people who live outside the State but still identify with the nation.
Only citizens ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction may vote in national elections. This excludes over a million Irish-born people living overseas and an even larger number in Northern Ireland who have a right to Irish citizenship. The rationale for this has traditionally rested on the idea that only those who live with the consequences of State policy should have a say in shaping it.
But the presidency is not a policy-making office. It is a symbolic and unifying institution, often acting as a bridge between Ireland and its global citizens. Every president since Mary Robinson has embraced that role. The office embodies not only the State but the wider idea of the Irish nation. There is a strong argument that the franchise should reflect the broader Irish family, including those who have left.
Extending voting rights to Irish citizens living north of the Border would be an act of constitutional generosity consistent with the spirit of the Belfast Agreement. It would recognise them as part of the national community without prejudicing their political preferences.
READ MORE
A referendum on the issue was announced in 2017 with cross-party support. It was delayed by Brexit and then shelved during the pandemic. Since then, political will has quietly dissipated. The Government now appears unwilling to reignite the debate, despite previous commitments and strong support from diaspora organisations.
Minister of State for the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, said this week that the Government was concerned a referendum on the issue could be defeated if there was insufficient debate and consultation in advance of the vote. But it is in the Government's own gift to start that process. It should do so without further delay.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
20 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Micheál Martin ‘definietly not' running for presidency, he says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is 'definitely not' going to run as a candidate for presidency. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil will consider a candidate in the coming weeks after taking 'soundings' from people within the parliamentary party. When asked if he had spoken with Deirdre Heenan, a Derry-based Ulster University professor who has been mentioned in some circles to be the party's candidate, Mr Martin said he had not. 'A lot of names have been floated in association with Fianna Fáil. I'm not responsible for the flotation of any of those names, just to make that very clear. I was elected, you know, I went to the people to say I wanted to serve Cork South Central and I wanted to lead Fianna Fáil into government. 'I made that obligation to the public and that's the context. No disrespect to the presidency or anything, but I gave commitments to the people that I would serve in Dáil Éireann for the next five years and that is what I'm going to do.' At the weekend former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin, who has expressed an interest in running herself, said it would be 'an insult' to the office of the presidency if her party does not run a candidate . The first declared candidates – former European Commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly – emerged last week in the battle to succeed President Michael D Higgins. Independent Ireland is open to talking to former chief medical officer (CMO) Tony Holohan and Irish dancing star Michael Flatley , should they seek nominations from Oireachtas members to enter the race, party leader Michael Collins has said.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Drinks Ireland warned Taoiseach that alcohol health labelling plans seen as ‘trade barrier' by US
A drinks industry representative organisation warned Taoiseach Micheál Martin that plans for health labels on alcohol have been 'identified as a barrier to trade by the US' during a meeting sought to discuss the impact of US president Donald Trump's threatened tariffs. The meeting also heard that the industry was seeking a delay in the introduction of the planned labelling regime. The rules – which are to include cancer warnings – were due to take effect in May 2026. The Government decided on Tuesday to delay the measure for two years amid ongoing trade uncertainty. A report published by US trade representative Jamieson Greer's office at the end of March detailed what the United States regards as trade barriers worldwide. READ MORE The Irish plans for alcohol health labelling were included in a section on the European Union . The report notes that the US industry has 'raised concerns' that the intended unique labelling requirements in the Republic are in addition to EU-wide regulations and 'would be costly and may disrupt US exports within the EU single market'. Do Sinn Féin need to change tack after slump in the polls? Listen | 38:36 Drinks Ireland – part of business lobby group Ibec – met Mr Martin on April 11th, along with several alcohol producers. A note of the meeting released by the Department of the Taoiseach under the Freedom of Information Act says that Drinks Ireland highlighted how the labelling requirements were identified as a barrier to trade by the US. The note also said: 'The sector, while open to labelling requirements, was seeking some delay from Government on their introduction.' Mr Martin is said to have 'noted the comments of Drinks Ireland in this regard'. In response to an Irish Times query on the meeting, the department said that 28 of the 31 provisions in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act – which includes the labelling plans – have been started. These include 'major changes on advertising, sponsorship, retail display of alcohol, and alcohol promotions, as well as the introduction of minimum unit pricing. 'The Minister for Health is aligned with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and all Ministers on the need for a whole-of-Government response to trade and tariffs.' A Drinks Ireland statement said it welcomed the 'opportunity for ongoing engagement ... to avoid further escalation and to seek a negotiated resolution. The Irish drinks sector is export-focused, with €2 billion in annual exports, and the US market is critical for our members throughout the country.' The statement added that the sector is 'particularly exposed' to US tariffs. On Tuesday, Minister for Trade Simon Harris updated Cabinet on the ongoing trade talks between the EU and US to reach an agreement in advance of Mr Trump's August 1st tariff deadline. As part of this, Ministers were advised that the alcohol health warning labels would be deferred for two years to 2028, following concerns raised about the impact of their implementation in the current global trading environment. The delay is to allow industry, domestic and international, to prepare for their implementation. The Cabinet was told the decision follows concerns raised by domestic interests at the Government trade forum around the potential to undermine international competitiveness.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Search-and-rescue hangar approved for Weston Airport
Weston Airport, part-owned by Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison , has been granted permission to build a new search-and-rescue (SAR) hangar. Following an appeal, including objections from locals, An Bord Pleanála ratified the local council's decision to grant permission for the new infrastructure despite a recommendation from their inspector to reject the planning. The proposed hangar will serve to house the Bristow-operated Dublin search and rescue team, which has been relocated to Weston Airport from Dublin Airport. Hugh Dooley has the details. A €9.4 billion tax and spending package will form the foundation of the upcoming budget , the Government said on Tuesday in the Summer Economic Statement (SES). READ MORE Still, the Coalition warned it may have to 'recalibrate' its strategy, reducing the size of the overall package, if there is a 'deterioration in the tariff landscape' over the coming months. Budget 2026 will include additional spending of €7.9 billion – an increase of 7.3 per cent annually, and well above the Government's 5 per cent spending rule – and tax cuts amounting to €1.5 billion, writes Ian Curran. David McWilliams on how 'big incentives' to build could save Dublin city Listen | 36:51 The big questions arising from the Summer Economic Statement will, however, be about spending, writes Cliff Taylor in his analysis. Restoring control on day-to-day spending will be a big challenge. And if the budget numbers tighten, then the State will face the choice of borrowing to finance its increased investment plans. In the middle of all this is the commitment to billions into two funds each year, to help pay future bills. Reliance, the Cork-headquartered engineering and robotics component distributor where former táinaste Simon Coveney was appointed as a non-executive director earlier this year, reported revenues of close €20 million last year as domestic sales jumped 14 per cent. Accounts filed recently for the Reliance Bearing and Gear Company, which celebrates a century in business this year, reveal turnover climbed by more than 11 per cent to just under €19.6 million in 2024, Ian Curran reports. Some first-time buyers are getting their mortgage wrong, and it's costing them. Stiff competition for homes means being laser focused on getting a loan offer, and fast. However, getting the wrong mortgage could leave you in the wrong house, in the wrong location and on the hook for more debt than necessary. Your mortgage is going to shape your finances for decades to come, so here are the top 10 things you need to get right, writes Joanne Hunt. The correct, writes John McManus in his weekly column, but pretty much politically impossible thing to do about the housing crisis is to level with the electorate and say that fixing the problem is going to take far longer than anyone is prepared to admit. And that it will probably never be fixed if the definition of fixed is that we achieve European levels of housing provision. AIB has moved to require staff eligible for hybrid working to return to its branches and offices three days a week on a phased basis, introducing the tightest rules among Irish retail banks. The new regime will take full effect from the start of 2026, a spokesman said. AIB had more than 10,400 employees at the end of last year. Joe Brennan reports. If you'd like to read more about the issues that affect your finances try signing up to On the Money , the weekly newsletter from our personal finance team, which will be issued every Friday to Irish Times subscribers.
