The Irish abroad should receive the right to vote in this centenary year

Fianna Fáil’s manifesto, ‘An Ireland for All’ said: “The President is an important political and cultural figurehead for the state and nation. As an international figure the position represents an important cultural centre point for the Diaspora and all those who consider themselves Irish across the globe. Irish citizens in Northern Ireland should have the right to cast their ballot in this important election”.

This concurs with my longstanding campaign on votes for the Irish abroad. The apolitical office of Uachtarán na hÉireann has changed greatly since the election of the two Marys and their focus on diaspora and worldwide issues — Just look at the role they and the Irish-Americans played in the current peace process, and in the run-up to the 1916 Rising.

But in 2013 Senator Mark Daly said “A key priority is to continue to campaign to extend voting rights to citizen of the Irish nation outside the State”.

The Fianna Fáil report ‘Policy Proposal For The Irish Overseas and Diaspora’ compared the Irish-born with many other nations and said: “It is time to grant Irish citizens living abroad and those in the North of Ireland who wish to vote, the right that they are entitled to as members of the Irish Nation according to the Irish Constitution.”

A starting point of inviting worldwide Irish passport holders to vote for the head of state of our nation would be welcomed in this centenary year, a year in which we revisit the aspiration of “cherishing all the children of the nation equally”.

Gerry Molumby

Nottingham

UK