Register of British residents
Mrs. Hussey asked whether the Government planned to compile a register of British residents to address the statistical gap, linking it to possible voting-rights changes. The Minister referred her to another question on the Order Paper, and the Ceann Comhairle said she could raise the matter when it was reached.
It is important to establish why we are not given these statistics. I am anxious to find out if they will be made available. In view of the stated desirability of extending the right to vote in Dáil elections to British citizens, as contained in the Anglo-Irish studies document, I should like to know if the Government have plans to compile a register of the number of British citizens resident in Ireland.
Comment on this
I asked the Minister, in view of the gap in statistics which might be very important for future developments here, if the Government have plans to close that gap.