Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an scéal aréir faoin reifreann ar chúrsaí vótála i dtoghchán na huachtaránachta.

The Leader is always encouraging us to be positive so I will start by being positive in welcoming the Cabinet approval for a referendum Bill to provide for presidential voting rights to be extended to citizens outside the State. This is something that I and many colleagues, not least Senator Billy Lawless, have focused on in our time in this House. The proposal has the broad support of people across this Chamber and beyond. A marker has been laid down. This is a very formal display from the Cabinet and the Government and what we need now is everyone, whether involved in political, civic, community, cultural and voluntary life, getting out there to ensure that we invest in our global diaspora and that citizens in the North are not left behind any longer. We need to win this for citizenship and in order to send a clear message to our citizens and to fellow member states across the EU that already afford this franchise extension to their citizens. I want to add a caveat to my positivity by stating that there is a bit of time to go between now and October. I sincerely hope that we get to that stage because I do not believe we can allow this issue to slide any longer. I do not think citizens outside the State will forgive us if we allow it to do so. I look forward to a very positive campaign and encourage all of the global Irish networks, not least organisations like the GAA, which will have a pivotal role in this campaign, to get involved, as well as members of all political parties and none represented in this Chamber. We must go out, mobilise, encourage participation and win this.

I had indicated earlier that I was not going to speak but I just want to add my voice to those of my colleagues who have suggested that it is very bad parliamentary practice to introduce significant Government amendments very late in the day and then, without giving us time to consider them properly and table our own amendments, ram a Bill through over the course of five and a half hours. I assure the Leader that it will be the same two or three people who are engaging on every Bill in this House. This is just wrong, unfair and sloppy, and I completely oppose it. I will be voting with my colleagues on the proposed amendment to the Order of Business.