Referendum planned on allowing emigrants to vote for Irish President
A referendum on allowing Irish people living abroad to vote in presidential elections is being planned for early next year.
Diaspora Minister Joe McHugh announced the news and said it may expand to allow people abroad to vote in other referenda and General Elections.
The right to vote in a presidential election may expire after a number of years abroad.
Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly welcomed the move, but said that the issue of time limits on any emigrant vote need to be looked at.
"If you left, and there was a time limit of seven years put on it, you might never get the right to exercise your vote in an election," he said.
"So if you limited it to 15 years, you might only get the right to vote once in it, so that is certainly an issue that has to be looked at.
"But I suppose we must look at the fundamental issue and the fundamental principle that citizens of this State should have a right to vote."
