I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I can confirm the Government will not oppose the motion and will continue to keep the matter of extending the right to vote in presidential elections to citizens overseas outside the State under review. The story of emigration from our island is long and layered. For many years, the prevailing narrative rightly focused on the fact that economic challenges and social exclusion meant that, for many, emigration was seen as the only viable option. For others, particularly more recently, emigration was a choice made under more positive circumstances. In our work, we are fortunate to witness the role the diaspora plays in carrying Ireland’s voice and values around the world. From talking to colleagues across the Oireachtas, two things stand out. First, there is hardly a town, village or community across Ireland that has not been impacted by emigration. Like many in the Chamber, I have direct experience of family and friends moving abroad and the strange gap that exists when someone who was always around is now in another country. Second, we all share a desire to deepen the ties between Ireland and the Irish abroad. Earlier today, in line with the commitment made in the programme for Government, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for international development and diaspora, Deputy Richmond, launched the Government’s new diaspora strategy. The launch was one of the highlights of the fourth Global Irish Civic Forum, which takes place in Croke Park today and tomorrow. The forum is an integral element of the Government’s engagement with Irish communities abroad. It has brought together 250 people from 21 countries for two days of networking and discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish abroad.
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When I was abroad, I had the opportunity to meet very active Irish communities in Sweden and Denmark. I am pleased Irish politicians get the opportunity to engage with so many Irish living across the world. Throughout 2025, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, led the most intensive consultation ever undertaken with the Irish abroad. The centrepiece of the process was a series of formal consultations led by Ministers in 27 cities across 17 countries, including Ireland. Just under 500 individuals attended these discussions, with over 250 organisations represented. In addition to the formal public consultations, the strategy was informed by engagements with a range of stakeholders from the Oireachtas, civil society, NGOs, community and cultural movements and groups, business networks and academic institutions at home and abroad. The in-person consultations were supplemented by the Global Irish Survey, our first ever online survey of the Irish abroad. That consultation launched on 7 July 2025 and ran for seven weeks throughout the summer of 2025. Over 10,000 responses were received. The overall response to this open and expansive approach in person and online was very positive. In a changing and complex world, building an enduring relationship with the diaspora remains as significant as ever to our national identity. Our new strategy reflects the commitment of the Government to work with the diaspora on a new and unprecedented chapter in diaspora relations. There are 23 commitments and they focus directly on the challenges and opportunities identified by the Irish abroad during the consultation process. Given my portfolio, I welcome the commitment to open doors for those from under-represented groups to engage with Ireland. I will deal with the substance of the Deputy's Bill, which is votes for citizens outside our jurisdiction. As I understand it, the Bill seeks to extend the presidential franchise to citizens resident in Northern Ireland. The issue of voting rights in Irish presidential elections was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year. We have also been supportive of the work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution. This matter is not without challenges. At an operational level, a number of implementation issues will have to be addressed, including the establishment of an online-based voter registration and the extension of postal voting. Before that, we are all aware that extending the franchise will require constitutional change. It is important, as we have this discussion, that we do not underestimate the challenge constitutional change brings. In the course of the last Government we held two referendums and both were defeated. I believe in expanding the presidential franchise to all Irish citizens, regardless of where they live on this island or around the world, but to get to that point we have to win that debate. When you hold a referendum, you need to be, as we found out, in a position to win, and preferably to win strongly. If you do not, then the chance to extend the franchise will be lost for a generation. When this debate arises, the Government is often accused of not supporting an extension because we would not like the result. Like all here this evening, I am a democrat, I was democratically elected and I would not support approaching the matter in an undemocratic way, but we have to be clear as to what is possible. Holding a referendum is a political decision that needs to be taken by the government of the day. I assure the Dáil that this Government is reflecting on this issue for that exact reason. I have a number of speaking points in relation to deepening ties with the global Irish but I appreciate the Deputy's comments that he would like the debate to focus on the specifics of the Bill, which concern citizens resident on the island of Ireland. While those comments have been circulated, I will take the Deputy's feedback on board and leave it at that.
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Deputy, I also spoke about votes for citizens in Northern Ireland.
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We had a back and forth about this. On a point of order-----
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I would just like to raise a point of order. Am I entitled-----
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The Government recognises that conversations on issues like this lead to more specific discussion and engagement, North and South, about constitutional change more broadly, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement. That is why we are not opposing this Bill and why we want to have this debate in this Chamber. However, I do not appreciate some of the comments the Deputy has made in his remarks. These are extremely important issues and they naturally require very careful and serious consideration. We have taken careful note of the reports published by the last Oireachtas on these issues. The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement is an absolute priority for this Government. In addition to the rights regarding identity, the principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement endorsed by the people of this island, the island of Ireland, both North and South. The approach of any Irish Government regarding Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998, as the Deputy will be aware. The Government firmly respects and affirms everyone's right on the island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see, whether they are nationalist, unionist or neither. The Good Friday Agreement and the two sovereign Governments explicitly recognise and validate the legitimacy of views on these constitutional positions. Our focus through the shared island initiative is in working towards a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. That approach is necessary, regardless of whatever shape, future or constitutional change may take on this island or between these groups. I am talking about constitutional change because, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, the Bill would require constitutional change. The Deputy's Bill would require a referendum. The issue of voting rights in the Irish presidential elections, as I said earlier, was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year and we have been supportive of the work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution. This is not without its challenges and Deputies Crowe, Ó Murchú and Tóibín had specific queries and comments regarding those challenges I mentioned. Ultimately, the issue of expanding the right to vote in presidential elections for Irish citizens resident outside of the State and those in Northern Ireland is a sensitive topic and requires thorough and respectful dialogue across this House. I commend Members this evening on their contributions and note that until recently, it was mature and constructive debate, which is a debate I want to engage in. On the specifics of this Bill, namely, expanding the franchise to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement makes clear the people of Northern Ireland can, as we all appreciate and respect, identify as British, Irish or both. Article 2 of the Constitution, as amended, forms a key part of the agreement and ensures the entitlement and birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation. This Government and all governments since 1998 have advocated for and defended that right, and we must do so as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and will continue to do so. However, the issue of extending the franchise for voting in presidential elections is not straightforward. The work undertaken by the Convention on the Constitution and voting rights and other matters was important, and the detailed 2017 options paper on the matter prepared by the Department of housing, planning, community and local government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, considered a range of policy, legal and logistical matters that need consideration. As I said earlier, these include the register of electors and postal voting, for example. I am not saying it cannot be done; I am saying it requires careful thought and preparation, as well as securing a positive result in a referendum. The Government is focused on what is attainable - the art of the possible. We want to hold a referendum that we can win. We believe that if you hold a referendum, you need to be in a position to win it. That is why it is imperative that we continue to maintain cross-party dialogue on this topic and that we continue to be respectful of people when it comes to it. I wish to reassure the Dáil that the Government takes this matter seriously. We are not opposing this Bill for that reason. We are, as I said earlier, reflecting on it and on how best to work on it going forward.
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