Giving Aras vote to expats ‘won’t hand its keys to Sinn Féin’
SIMON Coveney has brushed off suggestions that Fine Gael’s planned referendums to allow Irish citizens living abroad to vote in Presidential elections could inadvertently hand the keys of the Áras to Sinn Féin for years to come. The Government has committed to holding a poll on the issue in 2019, with the vote expected to take place alongside the European and local elections on Friday, May 24.
A referendum on whether to reduce the waiting time for a divorce is also expected to take place on that day.
Some in Fine Gael have speculated that a successful referendum on voting rights for the diaspora could hand an advantage to Sinn Féin, because of their strong networks among the Irish-American community in the US, as well as among the Irish emigrant community in Australia. In 2015, it emerged that the party had raised $12million (€10.5million) in the 20-year period since 1995, thanks to 15,000 donations to the Friends of Sinn Féin organisation. The donations included contributions from construction companies, trade unions and even Hollywood actors.
But Mr Coveney, who serves as both Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, has dismissed suggestions that Sinn Féin’s strong expat network would help it harness a massive vote from the diaspora.
He suggested that despite being given a vote, very few citizens living abroad would take up the option of doing so. Citizenship is available to people if at least one of their grandparents was an Irish citizen. Mr Coveney told reporters: ‘In truth, I think quite a small percentage of Irish citizens outside of the island of Ireland... Northern Ireland is different, will actually go to the trouble of voting.
‘That’s not just me giving a gut feeling, that’s looking at the statistics of other countries that allow citizens abroad to vote. So I think this is the right thing to do and I hope the Irish people will support it when we bring it to them in a referendum. We will be having another conversation on this in January as a Cabinet to finalise decisions and we want to put this to a referendum of the people in 2019.’
The decision to hold the referendum has caused some fear within the Fine Gael ranks, with one backbencher telling the Mail it ‘invariably’ hands an advantage to Sinn Féin, and accusing the Tánaiste of ‘political naivety.’ ‘I’m always a believer in the idea that people should have to live with the consequences of the government or President of the day. Fair enough if you want to make a constituency or Seanad seat for emigrant voters,’ the backbencher said.
‘But usual emigrant voting patterns won’t apply in Ireland and it’s politically naive to say otherwise.’
Asked why a referendum should be held at all if, as the Tánaiste said, only a small percentage end up using their vote, the backbench TD replied: ‘That’s a very good question. Frankly, I don’t know the answer.’ However, Mr Coveney said that the referendum is not being driven by party political interests, but a desire to give a voice to Irish citizens abroad.
He said: ‘This is about consistency with Ireland looking outwards and taking our citizens abroad seriously in terms of their connection with Ireland, their interest in Ireland. I have said for many years that Irish people abroad should be able to vote in Presidential elections.’
‘Small percentage will take it up’