Emigrant voting plan welcomed

Two lobby groups campaigning for voting rights for Irish emigrants have welcomed the Government's consultation paper on emigrant…

Two lobby groups campaigning for voting rights for Irish emigrants have welcomed the Government's consultation paper on emigrant voting rights, published yesterday. The paper says Irish citizens living abroad for up to 20 years will be entitled to elect three members to the Seanad.

The Irish Emigrant Vote Campaign said yesterday it was the first step in establish right of Irish people to vote in elections. Glor an Deorai, which also campaigns for votes for emigrants, said while it welcomed the move, it sought full voting rights for emigrants for 20 years after they become non resident.