Constitutional Convention’s embrace of equality of all citizens welcome This weekend the Constitutional Convention has been discussing the issue of extending the right to vote in Presidential elections to northern citizens and Irish citizens living abroad. The three Sinn Fein representatives to the convention Mary Lou McDonald TD, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA and I argued for the extension of the vote. 73% of Delegates voting on the issue today agreed by to support the extension of Presidential voting rights to citizens in the north. 78% voted for citizens resident outside the state to have the vote in Presidential elections. This is a significant step forward in the recognition of the equal rights of all. By doing so, the Convention has also made a constructive contribution to the peace process. The issue of voting rights in presidential elections for citizens living in the north and those living abroad is an important one for all democrats, but particularly for citizens in the north. The right to vote was hard fought for there in our own lifetime. It is a fundamental human right. The fact that Irish citizens living across the border cannot vote for the President of Ireland is another anomaly of partition, but it is also a form of discrimination against citizens of this state. President Michael D Higgins and before him, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, spoke and acted as presidents of all of this island. This is how they are regarded in the north too. The Government should act on the recommendations of the Convention to allow the people of the north and those who have left our shores to vote in presidential elections. As Martin McGuinness said during today’s deliberations, Sinn Féin isn’t just looking for votes for republicans or nationalists in the north. Unionists also deserve the opportunity, if they wish to exercise it, to elect the President.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 16:00:25 +0000
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