FG MEP says prisoners should be given postal vote

03/11/2005 - 10:28:02
Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell has called on the Government to give inmates in Irish prisons a postal vote.

The call follows a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that prisoners have a right to vote.

At present, there is no law banning Irish prisoners from voting, but there are also no provisions to allow them to do so.

Mr Mitchell said today that he believed giving them a postal vote would help with their rehabilitation and encourage them to think of their responsibilities of citizens.