The draft programme for Ireland's next Government that was agreed upon by coalition leaders on January 15 does not include a provision to hold a referendum on voting rights for Irish citizens abroad.
This is a marked change from the 2020 programme for Government which set out to "hold a referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State."
Unlike citizens in other countries, Irish citizens who are no longer living in the Republic of Ireland cannot cast votes in Irish elections from abroad. This impacts not only Irish citizens who have left Ireland, but also Irish citizens who are living across the border in Northern Ireland.
VotingRights.ie, which was founded in 2016 to advance the cause of Irish emigrant voting, has now responded to the Irish Government's apparent u-turn on the long-simmering matter of voting rights for Irish citizens abroad.
Kevin Sullivan, co-founder of VotingRights.ie, told IrishCentral on Friday of his concern about Irish citizens in Northern Ireland still not being able to vote in Irish elections.
"Building a Shared Ireland is more than bricks and mortar," Sullivan said.
"Two astonishing facts speak volumes about the lack of voting rights for Irish-born citizens living just over the Border.
"First, there is not one Northern representative currently in the Seanad over 100 years after the partition. Second, there are now over 1 million Irish-born passport holders in the North who are denied the vote.
"How does one call for a Shared Ireland or a United Ireland and at the same time deny these citizens any form of representation such as voting for the Presidency?
"When it comes to democratic reform and voting rights for citizens living outside the State, the government excels at incrementalism at a slow pace."
Sullivan continued: "Irish citizens living abroad are diverse in their political thinking. They will not vote in lockstep for any political party which is a commonly held assumption in Leinster House.
"These are the same voters who came home by the thousands and twice created the #HometoVote movement to help pass two progressive referendums."
Sullivan added: "As a long-time friend of Ireland, I worry that Ireland is becoming a complacent and parochial democracy at a time when many other members of the EU see their institutions under constant threat and challenged by a growing authoritarian outlook. Ireland is not immune from these threats and should create new democratic bulwarks with some sense of urgency. Most recently, the vote of the citizens living abroad was absolutely critical to the election of pro-Western leaders in Poland and Moldova."
"A voice at home"
Noreen Bowden, also a co-founder of VotingRights.ie, acknowledged that the new draft programme for Government "includes some gestures in the right direction regarding overseas citizens," including reducing barriers for returning emigrants.
However, Bowden said the "absence of any commitment to give overseas citizens a vote is glaring."
She continued: "Policies made in Ireland can have a real effect on the lives of citizens overseas; representation for ordinary citizens is important, so that they can articulate issues affecting them and raise awareness among policy-makers, the public, and communities overseas themselves.
"Irish citizens living abroad do great work as Ireland's informal ambassadors, encouraging business investment and tourism, supporting Irish industry and arts, and spreading goodwill for the country.
"And still, Ireland continues to refuse to grant what almost every other country in the developed world gives their citizens: a voice at home."
"Why can't Ireland do the same?"
Roscommon native Hilary Bierne represents VotingRights.ie in New York, where he is the Chairman of the St. Patrick’s Day Foundation and Chief Administrative Officer of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Bierne, who is running for the Seanad as a candidate in the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency, told IrishCentral: "This represents a huge loss of potential economic activity between Ireland and its citizens abroad, something that could help reduce the overdependence on multinationals when it comes to the Irish economy.
"After 300 years of Irish nationals leaving Ireland for opportunities abroad, one would think Ireland would be at the forefront of voting rights for its citizens living abroad.
"Over 2/3 of the nations of the world engage citizens living abroad and grant them the vote which benefits the nation. Why can't Ireland do the same?"
"Profound disappointment"
VotingRights.ie member Jackie Gilna, the Dublin-native founder of the Canada-based We Are Global Irish, said the absence of a referendum in the new draft programme for Government is a "profound disappointment to the global Irish community."
Gilna said: "For decades, Irish-born citizens living abroad have been unwavering in their contributions to Ireland’s economy, culture, and global influence, consistently working to strengthen economic ties and foster growth.
"This oversight disregards a promise made to Ireland’s citizens living away who have demonstrated immense loyalty and support for their homeland.
"Granting the right to vote in the Presidential elections would acknowledge the enduring connection of Irish citizens living abroad and empower them with a rightful voice in shaping its future.
"We ask the government to recognize the invaluable role of Irish citizens abroad and honor its commitment to inclusive representation."