Disenfranchised Irish citizens abroad

NOT everyone was allowed to vote in the recent French referendum thousands of Irish citizens resident in France were excluded. This is not surprising as we are not French nationals.

What is surprising is that the Irish Government will not allow us to vote in the upcoming referendum in Ireland. We are disenfranchised by both governments.

The Irish Government has always encouraged its citizens to go abroad and to take an active part in the construction of the new Europe. This we have done, in our thousands, throughout all the member state.

Now our own Government is not allowing us to be part of the democratic process, for the very Constitution that is going to impact on us. The mission statement of the Department Foreign Affairs boasts about advancing Ireland’s values and protecting its citizens abroad. These values presumably include democracy, and protecting its citizens abroad should include protecting our democratic rights.

Ciarán Mac Guill

40 rue Gaston Paymal

92110 Clichy

France