An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cearta Vótála i Reifrinn) 2014: An Chéad Chéim
Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Referenda) Bill 2014: First Stage
Deputy Anne Ferris:   Tairgim: Go gceadófar go dtabharfar isteach Bille dá ngairtear Acht chun an Bunreacht a leasú. I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Constitution. Currently, only Irish citizens can vote in referenda. This Bill would enable a referendum to extend the franchise for voting in future constitutional referenda to citizens of other nations who allow reciprocal voting in their constitutional referenda to citizens of Ireland.
As the United Kingdom is the only country that currently extends such voting rights to Irish citizens, the Bill would facilitate the extension of reciprocal voting rights to British citizens in referenda in line with the spirit of recognition of both sets of identities enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement.
On 18 September, residents of Scotland will go to the polls in a referendum to decide whether Scotland may become an independent country. Irish citizens living in Scotland may vote in that referendum.
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland resident in the UK will be also eligible to vote in the planned referendum on the future of the UK within the European Union.
It is only right that the Irish people should be allowed to consider offering British citizens a comparable vote in Irish referenda.
An Ceann Comhairle: Is the Bill being opposed?
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): It is not opposed.
Cuireadh agus aontaíodh an cheist.
Question put and agreed to.
An Ceann Comhairle: I declare the motion for leave to introduce agreed. Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.
Deputy Anne Ferris: Tairgim: "Go dtógfar an Bille in am Comhaltaí Príobháideacha."
I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
Cuireadh agus aontaíodh an cheist.
Question put and agreed to.
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2014: First Stage
Deputy Catherine Murphy: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electoral Act of 1992 to enable candidates for election who are not members of a political party to identify themselves as independent on a ballot paper and to provide for related matters. This is a very short Bill. Essentially, it seeks to allow people who are contesting elections as independents, to declare themselves as independents on the ballot paper. Currently, one is only allowed to put "non-party" or leave the ballot paper blank.
Great efforts are made to ensure that people get their names correct on the ballot paper. We can all remember the late Seán "Dublin Bay Rockall" Loftus as probably being the most celebrated example of that. In addition, photographs are included on the ballot paper for people who may have literacy problems. The law is very specific about that.
There have been Independent Members of the Dáil since the foundation of the State. Independents are a fact of life at local government level. |
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