Democracy denied

Widen the franchise to all Irish citizens

In recent years, the President has become possibly the most tangible connection to the Diaspora

SINN FÉIN Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that Irish citizens living abroad, as well as Irish citizens in the Six Counties, should be given the right to vote in 26-County elections.
Ó Caoláin was addressing a Sinn Féin public meeting on November 4th in the London Irish Centre. The meeting was addressed by Professor Mary Hickman of London Metropolitan University and Mal Rogers, editor of the Irish Post newspaper.
This article is an edited version of what Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said.

WILL Ireland live up to its claimed respect for its world-wide Diaspora, including the Irish in Britain, and grant its citizens living abroad the right to vote in Irish elections? This is a timely question.
Ireland is in the depths of a very serious economic crisis. That crisis was made; it was not an accident of nature. A national conversation is beginning in Ireland about what kind of island, what kind of society and what kind of economy our people will create at the other side of the crisis.
We in Sinn Féin have a clear vision of the New Republic we want to build. It would be a united and peaceful Ireland, an Ireland of equals and an Ireland that cherishes the Diaspora and accords to all its citizens the full rights of citizenship, including the right to vote.
Let it be said at the outset that there is little or no prospect of the present Government in Dublin granting such voting rights.
But this Government is on its last legs. Therefore now is a very timely moment to advance the debate on the extension of the franchise.
On October 13th I raised this issue in the Dáil with Taoiseach Brian Cowen. I asked him if any consideration was being given to widening the electoral franchise to Irish citizens living outside the jurisdiction of the 26 Counties.
The Taoiseach stated that he was not aware of any such proposal and he went on:
“I am saying the onus is on those who propose it to come forward with some case for consideration. It is not for me to build their case.”
The case has, of course, been made many times and over many years. But I welcome this invitation from the Taoiseach to make the case and to build the case. That is our purpose here and in the campaign which will hopefully emerge from this meeting.
The Taoiseach himself has sought to recruit well-known and talented members of the Irish Diaspora to assist in Ireland’s economic recovery. Surely it would add more meaning and substance to that effort if he recognised that Irish citizens living abroad should have a voice in national democracy.
This is especially important for the Irish in Britain.
I want to pay tribute to the Irish in London and in Britain generally for the constructive role they have played.
The election for the next President of Ireland takes place next year. In recent years, the President has become possibly the most tangible connection to the Diaspora, through the regular visits to Irish communities across this country made by President Mary McAleese and her predecessor, Mary Robinson. On taking office, Mary Robinson lit a candle in the window of Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park, as a reminder for all those passing to remember the Irish Diaspora who had been scattered across the world.
Now that the election is in sight, we in Sinn Féin believe that the time is right to bring the call for a Diaspora role in the election back to the fore.
Sinn Féin will use its good offices in the Oireachtas to make sure that that call is heard.

n The renewed Programme for Government, agreed in October 2009 makes a commitment to establish an Independent Electoral Commission. Among the tasks of that commission, according to the Government Programme, is to “make recommendations on the feasibility of extending the franchise for Presidential elections to the Irish abroad”.
n We will be seeking a meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to press for this commitment to be fulfilled.
n We will be campaigning energetically for voting rights in Presidential elections for citizens in the Six Counties also.
In Britain, we would like to see people from the Irish community coming together to raise the issue and to actively campaign on it. You can be sure that Sinn Féin will be as supportive as we can to help.
We are not seeking to monopolise this issue as a party. Other parties in Ireland should be welcomed on board this campaign.
Between us, we must ensure that this issue is on the agenda for everyone who goes forward as a candidate in the Presidential election. The more of us who work collectively together on this, the better the chance of finally righting what we regard as an historic wrong, including to yourselves, as Irish people living outside the island.
The Irish at home and abroad are both proud of our past and looking to the future.
Here in London, 90 years ago last week, the Irish community lined the streets in their tens of thousands to say farewell to the martyred Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, who died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison. His dignity and determination won the admiration of people in Britain and much sympathy and support here for Irish independence.
The free Irish nation for which Mac Swiney and so many others sacrificed so much includes the Irish living outside the island of Ireland.
As we look to the future we need to build on that spirit of freedom, build a truly new Ireland, a New Republic which embraces all our citizens and all of our Diaspora.

The Taoiseach himself has sought to recruit well-known and talented members of the Irish Diaspora
to assist in Ireland’s economic recovery. Surely it would add more meaning and substance to that effort if he recognised that Irish citizens living abroad should have a voice in national democracy