Sir, – Rather than fretting over the potential impact that expat voters could have in a future referendum, perhaps Derek Scally could have focused on why the current system is unfair and why it should be changed ("How many 'home to voters' were actually entitled to vote?", Opinion & Analysis, August 25th).
Ireland is one of a small number of democratic countries in the world to strip citizens of their right to vote once when they move abroad. This is an outdated position in a globalised world where capital, goods and people move so freely. Indeed, the European Commission is concerned that Ireland’s laws could be in contravention of the principle that there should be freedom of movement within the European Union.
Emigrants don’t stop being Irish citizens when we move abroad. Here in the UK, the Conservative government has pledged to remove the 15-year limit on its citizens voting in elections from abroad. Meanwhile, our Government continues to ignore the Convention of the Constitution’s recommendation in this area. – Yours, etc,
DEAN DUKE,
London.