Doherty urges government action on presidential vote for citizens in the North
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance welcomed the Tánaiste’s response to this week’s historic vote in Stormont in support of extending presidential voting rights
Donegal TD, Deputy Pearse Doherty, has said that the government must act without further delay on commitments given on extending presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North.
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance welcomed the Tánaiste’s response to this week’s historic vote in Stormont in support of extending presidential voting rights where Simon Harris indicated he was ‘supportive’ of the principle, and his further commitment to engaging with ‘government colleagues, including the Taoiseach, in relation to this matter’.
Deputy Doherty cautioned that, 12 years on from the constitutional convention that gave a commitment on extending voting rights and nine years on from Fine Gael reaffirming their support for doing so, that it is now incumbent on the government to act and give a clear timeline on when they will hold a referendum to make the necessary changes to the constitution.
Teachta Doherty said: “This week saw a historic vote in the Assembly in support of extending presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in the North.
“This was was a powerful message from Stormont, one that transcends political differences and affirms the principles of equality enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement.
“I welcome the Tánaiste’s response, and his commitment to progressing this matter within government. But what we now need to see, without further delay, is a clear timeline communicated by government on when these long-standing commitments will finally become reality.
“It is now 12 years since the constitutional convention in Dublin voted overwhelmingly to extend voting rights, and nine years since Fine Gael reaffirmed its commitment to holding a referendum to make the necessary changes to the constitution.
“We have had three governments since then but nothing whatsoever has happened. Worryingly, there was no mention of extending voting rights in the most recent Programme for Government.
“That impasse cannot be allowed to continue. We should not be facing into a presidential election later this year where citizens in the North are again excluded. This must be the last time it ever happens.
“The government has a constitutional duty to uphold the citizenship rights of everybody born on the island of Ireland. This is about equality, recognition and democratic participation.
“So the time for excuses is over. The government must give a timeline and set a date for the referendum, and finally act on the 12-year-old commitment to extend voting rights in presidential elections to citizens in the North.”