Menu
Free Shipping On Orders Over $100 — USA only
The right to vote in Ireland, like many countries, is granted with citizenship. However, for Irish emigrants the legislature amended the electoral laws to include a provision that removes voting rights from Irish passport holders in the Diaspora. Specifically, the exclusion provides that to be on the electoral register, you must reside at your electoral address on September 1st before the register comes into force. If not, you can’t vote!!!
Obviously, for those of us who emigrated from Ireland to other parts of the world, we can no longer vote and influence the legislative direction of the country. There is an exception with the postal vote for full-time members of the Defence Forces, members of the Garda Siochana and Irish diplomats or his/her spouse posted abroad. Seems strange these groups can register a postal vote but other Irish citizens are denied the same right?
Is This Normal?
No! Disenfranchising citizens who no longer live in the country is not normal! In fact, most democratic governments around the world accommodate voting for overseas citizens! Even those more autocratic nations who did deny the franchise to overseas citizens have reveAll Postsrsed that position. Some of those countries include: India, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Kenya, and Venezuela! So, if democracies around the world do not disenfranchise emigrants, and the aforementioned countries did a U turn, why does Dail Eireann continue to deny voting rights to some of it’s citizens? Surely voting in a democracy is a “right” and by definition “rights” cannot be granted nor taken away by government?
Indeed, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) codifies:
Since the Celtic Tiger faded and a terrible economic crisis took a foothold in Ireland, the Irish Government has enacted several Public and Private efforts to have the Irish Diaspora abroad help with the recovery of Ireland. We have seen several ministers of the Irish Government visit and tell us how Ireland needs us now, and in addition, we have seen Connect Ireland launch a full on tour of the United States asking us to refer businesses to Ireland. There has also been the establishment of the Global Irish Economic Forum, whereby wealthy expat business leaders are granted a direct line of communication and influence to the Dail. This may yet help Ireland, which we are obviously in favor of; but why should a few hundred wealthy Irish emigrants be given “access” to influence policy while the vast majority of Irish emigrants have no vote, no voice and no influence.
They irony is that they ask for all this help, but when it comes to advancing our rights back in Ireland they propose insulting “compromises” such as, well you can vote in the Seanad, or we are being considered for inclusion on the presidential electoral register! These two suggestions are a slap in the face of the Diaspora, as we all know, these two elections do not influence policy or legislative change.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t help Ireland. I have referred several people to go and do business, visit, and buy Irish! I just feel it should not be a one way street and our views should be seriously considered and this disenfranchisement overturned.
Believe it or not, there are some Irish TD’s who oppose giving the Irish abroad a vote. One of their main issues tends to be that we are not affected by the laws of the country and governing of Ireland. However, this is not the case at all! Here are some clear ways in which the Irish abroad are affected:
Return Migration – according to a survey by the Irish Times in 2012, 72% of recent emigrants polled want to return home at some point, and most identified that point as being when the economy turns around and there are jobs for them back home. Therefore, emigrants need a voice on policies and issues surrounding returning to the country.
Spousal Immigration – many of us who have landed on foreign soil get married. If we want to return to Ireland the immigration laws of Ireland become a big concern. Under the current system we have no voice to influence the immigration laws.
Social Welfare For Returning Emigrants – Social welfare laws in Ireland require that you live in the country for 2 years before becoming eligible. This was to stem EU citizens from coming into Ireland and becoming eligible. The Irish emigrant community who returned were promised that this would apply to them. This promise fell through. Again, no voice!
The Diaspora Strategy – The Irish Government spend millions each year on the Diaspora strategy for emigrant support spending. Since this money is coming abroad to support the needs of Irish Expats, we are affected by policies enacted on what to support.
Taxation – Typically most emigrants will own property in Ireland, or may be left property in the future. As a result of this ownership, we have to pay taxes on this property. Clearly, taxation without representation!!!
Contributory Pension – If you have worked in Ireland you are entitled to a contributory pension irrespective of where you reside in the world. Obviously any policy changes with respect to this pension will affect them.
Clearly, we, the Irish abroad are affected by the decisions made in the Dail. We cannot expect the Irish at home to represent our views as they are not in our situation!
Absolutely not! The Irish Times survey I mentioned earlier also reported that 72% of recent emigrants supported the idea of retaining their vote. 12% disagreed. To view the survey click here.
Similarly there many proud Irish citizens in the North who are also denied the right to vote in Irish elections. For example, under Bunreacht Na hEireann the Irish President represents the whole Irish Nation, but Northerners, who are constitutionally part of the Irish Natioin are not permitted to vote. We have even had the situation where Mary McAleese (Co Down) was the President of Ireland but those who lived in Co. Down were not allowed to vote for her. More recently Martin McGuinness from Derry ran for President but had no vote even though he was a Presidential candidate. We hope the current Irish Constitutional Convention will grab the bull by the horns and facilitate all those born in Ireland, wherever they reside, to vote in Irish elections should they desire to do so.
I sincerely hope the Diaspora and Northerners don’t experience the same scenario as Ms. Sojourner Truth when the female suffrage movement in the United States accepted the right to vote for white women, but left behind their African American suffragette sisters, who had lobbied and campaigned together with them all the way! Her famous speech: “Ain’t I A Woman too?” could become “Ain’t I Irish too?”
Feel free to share your opinion below in the comments section, we are very willing to listen to all viewpoints.
Celtic Clothing is committed to providing quality Irish Gifts to our North American customers.
Thank you for supporting a family-owned American small business.
Phone: 610-662-9154
Email: sales@celticclothing.com
Celtic Clothing Company
8 Prospect Avenue
West Grove, PA. 19390 USA
Online Only. Not Open to the Public.
© 1999–2024 CelticClothing.com. All Rights Reserved.
