Crowe calls for extension of presidential voting rights

Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called for presidential voting rights to be
extended to northern citizens and to the Irish diaspora.  Deputy Crowe said
if this requires a constitutional amendment then this should be provided
for at the earliest opportunity.

Deputy Crowe, a member of the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement
Implementation Committee, also called on each of the presidential
candidates to indicate their position regarding this issue.

He said:

“Extending presidential voting rights to Irish citizens living in the Six
Counties is a natural outworking of the Good Friday Agreement which
enshrines the rights of people in the north to Irish citizenship.

“The President of Ireland represents all Irish citizens and so all citizens
should have the right to decide who the president should be.  This should
also include the Irish diaspora.

“If this requires a constitutional amendment then this should be put before
the people at the earliest opportunity.

“Sinn Féin will continue to campaign on this issue and today’s event at
Leinster House by Ógra Shinn Féin is part of that campaign.  At the heart
of this campaign is equality.  We want to see all Irish citizens given the
right to vote for a president that will represent the whole island of
Ireland and all Irish people.

“I would urge all presidential candidates to indicate their position on the
extension of voting rights for northern citizens and for the diaspora ahead
of the poll taking place in just a few months’ time.”