Dáil protest – Irish citizens in North demand right to vote for President of Ireland

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Rights and equality delayed are rights and equality denied’ – Belfast Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile

THE Irish Government’s commitment to come back in March with a consultation paper on voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the Diaspora is well overdue, Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile said during a protest at the Dáil on Tuesday.

“Given governments’ record thus far, people won’t be holding their breath, the Belfast-based senator said, “but Irish citizens living in the North won’t allow this issue to be taken off the boil,” he told An Phoblacht.

“We are not partial citizens, we are not conditional citizens, and we are certainly not second-class citizens.

“When comes to the franchise and our rights, we’re going to make sure the Government delivers.”

He added:

“It’s long past time for the Oireachtas to deliver, especially when you consider it’s almost 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement, three years since the Constitutional Convention that overwhelmingly voted in favour of extending the franchise to Irish citizens in the North and the Diaspora.

“It defies belief that referendums can be held on other issues but this one remains on the Government’s long finger.

“Rights and equality delayed are rights and equality denied, and that’s not good enough.”

Senator Rose Conway, from Mayo, who was an emigrant in England herself for 13 years, said there is also anger amongst families across Ireland who have relatives living overseas who see Irish Government politicians parading their Irishness overseas on St Patrick’s Day yet deny Irish citizens votes at home.”

The protest was by councillors from local authorities in the North – Mid-Ulster; Derry City & Strabane District; Newry, Mourne & Down; and Fermanagh & Omagh – who have passed motions in the past month formally calling for Irish citizens in the Six Counties to be given by the Oireachtas the right to vote for the President of Ireland.