Emigrant body says Irish diaspora should be able to elect senators

Irish emigrants living in Britain, North America and Australia should be able to elect three senators following the 2013 referendum decision by voters not to abolish the Seanad, the Irish in Britain organisation has urged.

The election of senators by a registered panel of overseas voters would be “the most democratic and effective form of representation within the present constitutional framework”, the emigrant body said in a submission to the Seanad reform group. The group was set up by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to examine proposals for Seanad reform and is due to report back to the Government next month.

“The link between citizenship and political representation is one of the most fundamental principles of democracy. It is a strange anomaly that Irish citizens in Britain, members of the Irish community, can vote in Britain but not in Ireland,” Irish in Britain’s submission stated.

“British citizens living in Ireland can vote in Irish elections and remain entitled to register as overseas voters to participate in British elections. The law as it stands creates a second class of Irish citizenship for the Irish in Britain,” it said.

French example

It urged Ireland to learn from the French example. Although the circumstances are different, it said French overseas territories have had 12 places in the National Assembly since 2012. “We believe that Irish communities and citizens overseas have a major contribution to make to Irish public life: getting involved, being engaged and having a voice. We are looking for practical measures to facilitate change,” said Jennie McShannon, chief executive of Irish in Britain.

Ireland’s future depends “on our openness and global reach”, she said, adding that emigrants are “a vast resource of social capital”.

“Involvement of citizens and the election of senators through the democratic process would give diaspora communities a far greater sense of belonging,” the submission said.