Government 'reflecting' on whether to hold voting rights referendum for presidential elections

Minister of state Neale Richmond said the Government has 'made it quite clear that the only form of votes for those abroad that we're looking at is for the presidential election for Irish citizens'.

The Government is "reflecting" on whether to hold a referendum on voting rights in presidential elections.

However, minister of state Neale Richmond told the Irish Examiner any rights for other elections are not on the table. 

Mr Richmond also said that, in his role as minister for the diaspora, Irish people abroad have asked for "more tangible things".

In 2013, a constitutional convention recommended that rights be given for overseas citizens to vote in presidential elections.

While a plan was in place for a referendum in 2019, the Brexit emergency saw the government back away from that idea. The covid pandemic saw it recede further down the agenda.

It was a topic in this year's presidential election, and Mr Richmond says he would personally be in favour.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, he said the Government has "made it quite clear that the only form of votes for those abroad that we're looking at is for the presidential election for Irish citizens".

"We're now reflecting to see if that's the best use of our times and the best use of the next referendum. Is this the referendum that we need to hold next? I'm massively in favour of it.

"But I will be quite honest with you, it's not necessarily what the diaspora are looking for, and it's important that we don't put causes and words in the mouths of others."

Foreign aid

Mr Richmond said issues such as reciprocal drivers' licences are higher on the list of priorities of those abroad.

On foreign aid, Budget 2026 has provided Mr Richmond's portfolio with a further increase of €30mfor next year for a total allocation of €840.3m.

"Ireland has more than enough money to continue with our aid programme. And more importantly, our money is now starting to do more than perhaps it ever did before, because there's less money around, which gives us more influence to push our values. 

"So it's absolutely sustainable. It's imperative that we make it sustainable."

Mr Richmond said Ireland should "talk up" its international aid achievements more in the face of a "multifaceted" withdrawal from spending by European nations and the slashing of USAid by US president Donald Trump.

"We have to change the conversation about development. Once upon a time, it was all about Band Aid, and in the Irish tradition, giving to the missionaries in Africa, and it was seen as charitable. And that, on one positive hand, is why Irish people are so keen on development."

Asked if he agreed with justice minister Jim O'Callaghan, who said that immigration threatens social cohesion, Mr Richmond said that risk is caused by "anything that's not managed".

"But realistically, when we talk about the levels of migration to this country, probably the largest group coming into Ireland is returning Irish immigrants. So maybe let's start talking about that. And this is an uncomfortable conversation for Government."