Diaspora voting rights legislation
Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked about legislation and a referendum for extending presidential voting rights to the diaspora and people in the North. The Taoiseach said the Bill should be published before month’s end, with a referendum in October or November if all went smoothly.
Has the Government made a decision on the legislation necessary for the extension of presidential voting rights to the diaspora and people living in the North? When will the legislation be published? When does the Government propose to establish the commission? Does the Government intend to hold a referendum on this matter in the autumn?
Comment on this
The plan is to have the legislation published before the end of the month. That allows us establish the referendum commission immediately and the intention, subject to everything running smoothly in this House and the other House, is to have the referendum in October or November of this year.