Disenfranchised Irish residents living abroad

ONE of the consequences of the botched revision of the electoral register that has been ignored is that it is now, for the first time, impossible for Irish citizens resident abroad to vote.

In past years I could always count on maintaining my name on the register of some relation or other so that I could fly home (if time and money allowed), or if by chance an election happened to occur during one of my scheduled visits to the Auld Sod.

It is now, in principle, impossible for me to vote in Ireland even if I’m in the country at the right time because I can no longer remain on the register.

As a citizen of the EU, resident in the EU (which sets itself up as a democratic institution), I can no longer vote in a general election in any member country. Is my feeling of disenfranchisement justified?

Jaime Hyland

Heinrich-Mann-Str 26

13156 Berlin