Emigrant vote not a priority, says Cowen

GIVING voting rights to emigrants for elections in this country has been ruled out under new proposals to address the needs of Irish people living abroad.

The recommendations of a government think-tank on emigrants did not examine the oft-mooted suggestion of giving emigrants a say in the way the country was being run.

Speaking at the launch of the report of the Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants, Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen said he would keep the matter under review but extending voting rights was not a priority.