Thousands of immigrants set to vote
More than 40,000 immigrants have sought asylum here and many can vote in the elections which will be held in June.
These include people who have been granted citizenship, families with children born here and immigrants housed in accommodation centres.
Thousands have already registered to vote after finalising their details on the voting register at garda stations across the country.
Any immigrants, who have lived here prior to September 1 last year can vote in the local but not the European elections.
“We had heard there were difficulties at some garda stations about getting on the register, but that has been sorted now,” IRC chief executive Peter O’Mahony said.
The IRC believes the biggest election issue for asylum seekers will be the right to work while their application for refugee status is being processed.
“People in Mosney went on hunger strike about this, so it’s obviously going to be a major issue in the election,” Mr O’Mahony said.
There are 700 asylum seekers housed at the Mosney accommodation centre, which is in a largely rural constituency in Co Meath.
“This number of votes could have a major impact in a constituency like that. And we’re encouraging people to get involved,” Mr O’Mahony said.
Other areas where asylum seekers’ votes could affect the election outcome include Athlone and Limerick, the IRC believes.
Immigrants can join all political parties here except the Progressive Democrats who don’t allow non-EU citizens to become members. This is despite the fact that PD Justice Minister Michael McDowell and party leader, Tánaiste Mary Harney, between them oversee the Government’s immigration policies.
The party has since promised to change this rule but it may not happen before the upcoming elections.
A recent report called Positive Politics found that none of the political parties has implemented any measures to entice non-nationals into politics.
However, it emerged last week that a Fianna Fáil councillor in Co Meath is helping 60 immigrants in Mosney establish a party cumann. Cllr Hugh Gough hopes to bring the matter before the Fianna Fáil national executive in the coming weeks.
