Outrage was sparked when the Irish government refused to hold a referendum to extend the vote in Presidential elections to Irish citizens living in the North and elsewhere outside the Republic of Ireland.
The referendum was backed by the Constitutional Convention and a number of prominent TDs.
But Louth TD Gerry Adams lambasted the decision, saying, “The Cabinet decision not to hold a referendum on extending voting rights to the diaspora and to citizens in the north in Presidential elections is a slap in the face to all of those Irish citizens who want to contribute to the Irish nation.”
Similarly, Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin MEP, called upon the Irish government to stop dragging their feet and get a referendum passed.
“I am calling on the Government to make a clear commitment that this matter will be progressed without further delay and to take steps to make sure that the referendum on voting rights for our diaspora will be put before the people at the earliest opportunity,” he said. ♦
Vote Referendum Tabled
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