Diaspora referendum to extend voting rights for presidential elections is being considered

A plan for a referendum in place in 2019 was ditched amid the Brexit emergency — and covid pushed it further down the agenda

Minister of State for international development and diaspora, Neale Richmond: '[Th]e only form of votes for those abroad that we're looking at is for the presidential election for Irish citizens'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

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 time 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.

Minister of State for international development and diaspora Neale Richmond with Scotland's first minister John Swinney at the annual Ireland-Scotland bilateral review meeting in Dublin in November. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

"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 €30m for 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."

"But my big concern is that when the UK reduced their their spending from 0.5% to 0.3%.

"I spoke to their new international development secretary and she said the biggest problem is there is no outrage. Whereas everyone talked about 0.7% under Tony Blair."

'Ireland should talk up aid achievements'

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."