Varadkar favours votes for emigrants

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says he is personally in favour of allowing emigrants to vote in future Irish elections — but has insisted the call “is not tokenism”.

Speaking at the weekend, Mr Varadkar said the move would be “of real value” and “feed into the desire expressed throughout The Gathering initiative for closer ties with Ireland”.

He said it was his view that Irish citizens who have emigrated should be allowed to vote in presidential and Dáil elections.