Tierney backs calls to extend Presidential voting rights to all Irish citizens, no matter where they live

Derry SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney has supported calls to extend voting rights to all Irish citizens, regardless of their place of residency, in all future Irish Presidential elections. Cllr Tierney (pictured) said the SDLP believed all Irish citizens, regardless of residence, should have the opportunity to “democratically elect our nation's President.” He added: “We believe that all Irish people, whether they live in Derry or Donegal, Dubai or Detroit, should have a say in who our head of state is. “Many countries, 93 in fact, allow their overseas citizens to vote. Ireland has one of the strictest policies on the planet, where we forbid almost all expatriates from voting. This needs relaxed.

“Given our nation's history, a history of forced immigration, we have a large and growing diaspora. People may leave in search of employment, opportunity and a better life but they should not leave their right to select our president at Dublin Airport. “As for us citizens in the North - Irish citizens living on the island of Ireland - we should be afforded a vote in the next and all future presidential elections. We haven't left Ireland, but the current system has left us behind. “It's a bizarre system. We will all remember a very high profile, well respected Derry person that stood in the last Presidential election.

“Given the current system, not one person in this chamber or from right across this city and district, and I am sure there would have been many of us, had the opportunity to go out and vote for Dana.”