The political representation of emigrants is likely to be considered as part of a review of the role of the Seanad, according to a spokesman for the Department of the Environment.
He was replying to a query as to what decision had been made about the representation of emigrants in the Seanad, a proposal first mooted over a decade ago.
During the European elections, Fine Gael MEP and senator Mr Jim Higgins offered to give up his seat in the Seanad to a representative nominated by the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain if he was elected as an MEP, which he was.
He said in a statement yesterday that there was no response from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to a letter from his party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, on the proposal.
The spokesman for the Department of the Environment said that the Taoiseach had written to all the leaders of the opposition asking them to nominate people to an all-party committee to review the role of the Seanad.
He said that the question of the representation of emigrants was likely to fall under the brief of this committee.