Sir, – I was a little surprised that the Convention on the Constitution has approved a proposal to "extend voting rights to Irish emigrants" (Home News, September 30th), because Article 16 of Bunreacht na hÉireann already grants the right to vote to "all citizens".
“All citizens . . . without distinction of sex who have reached the age of 18 years who are not disqualified by law and comply with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann”.
The limitation on non-resident citizens actually voting in Irish elections is a legislative limitation, not a constitutional one. What is being proposed is actually a reduction in the existing rights of Irish citizens, not an extension. Article 12 of Bunreacht na hÉireann states “Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann shall have the right to vote at an election for President”, so the only reason for a referendum would be to remove the right of all citizens to vote in Dáil elections, so that they could implement a mechanism for non-resident citizens to exercise their right to vote in only oresidential elections.
Given that six of the 13 presidential terms since 1938, and four of the last seven have been filled without an election, it’s a fairly meaningless gesture anyway. – Yours, etc,
AENGUS LAWLOR,
Capitol Road East,
Norriton,
Pennsylvania, US.