SDLP Youth activists have mounted a demonstration at the Dáil calling for northerners to be allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections.
(Note: “northerners” is nationalist-speak for people living not in Donegal, who are perfectly entitled to vote in such elections, but those residing in Northern Ireland).
Speaking at the event, SDLP Youth Chairperson Gary McKeown said, "People living in the north have the right to identify themselves as Irish, so it is only fair that they should be allowed to vote for their head of state. This is in-keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthens democracy. We believe that anyone who is eligible to vote in the north should be allowed to cast a ballot in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin."
That "strengthens democracy" quote is interesting. Despite representatives from all parties on the Republic being invited to the demo, the poor Baby SDLPers were told that most of the parties had "no policy on this matter".
I find that last quote hard to believe, more a case of most parties in the Republic have no desire whatsoever to see their democracy corrupted by the type of narrow communal and sectarian politics that takes place on a daily basis in both Stormont and the various councils across Northern Ireland. The SDLP and Sinn Fein should just accept the reality; the Republic’s polity are happy enough to dole out the passports, but when it comes down to actually making real and meaningful sacrifices for their brethren in Northern Ireland, then that’s quite a different matter altogether.
9 comments:
"SDLP Youth activists have mounted a demonstration"
Did anyone notice the pair of them?
...but when it comes down to actually making real and meaningful sacrifices for their brethren in Northern Ireland, then that’s quite a different matter altogether.
How's about putting our money where our mouths area?
£42 million of Irish government support for the Stormont Executive was included in the final draft of the Budget
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/42m-in-Republic-support.3699875.jp
Republic unveils cash plan for NI
The Irish government is to spend about £800m on Northern Ireland-related infrastructure projects over the next six years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6289065.stm
Beano,
I'm not sure the average politician, never mind inhabitant, down in Dublin would still have any idea who the SDLP are.
Damien,
For such a rich country, a mere (but nevertheless welcome) drop in the ocean. But Ok, for the sake of argument assume you're right, the ROI really does appreciate and regard as equal its citizens presently living in Northern Ireland.
Why are they not giving them the same civic rights granted to its citizens which actually do live in the ROI?
Or is it the case that the "granting" of the ROI's passport and citizenship is only a token gesture to keep the nordies quiet?
For such a rich country, a mere (but nevertheless welcome) drop in the ocean.
It's more an acknowledgement of how British rule has failed to deliver the needed infrastructure, and is not now in a position to deliver it without investment from the Republic. The total failure of the political system (and politicians) in Northern Ireland has left the people deprived of modern infrastructure.
But Ok, for the sake of argument assume you're right, the ROI really does appreciate and regard as equal its citizens presently living in Northern Ireland.
Why are they not giving them the same civic rights granted to its citizens which actually do live in the ROI?
I assume you're not trying to start a discussion on the deprivation of civil/civic rights of members of the minority tradition in Northern Ireland?
Irish (Republic) Citizens living in Northern Ireland are entitled to all the same rights as any Irish citizen not living within the jurisdiction of the state, and I think you'll agree with me that Northern Ireland does not fall under the jurisdiction of the President of Ireland.
Personally, I would support extending the franchise for President to include all citizens of the Republic, wherever they are based. This would include citizens around the world, either by postal voting or through the network of embassies and consulates. We would not be alone in doing this; my mother is a US citizen with a vote for President, and I understand the recent Polish elections allowed voting from abroad.
Or is it the case that the "granting" of the ROI's passport and citizenship is only a token gesture to keep the nordies quiet?
The granting of citizenship and passports is a reflection of the law here, nothing more and nothing less.
It's more an acknowledgement of how British rule has failed to deliver the needed infrastructure, and is not now in a position to deliver it without investment from the Republic. The total failure of the political system (and politicians) in Northern Ireland has left the people deprived of modern infrastructure.
I think the thirty year of terrorism we endured must have slipped your mind there, it probably contributed somewhat to the dire state of our infrastructure as well. In fact I would say it was that more than anything else which has left us in the hole we are. And the infrastructure developments being paid for the ROI tend to be ones which will also have some beneficial knock-on effects south of the border. Not complaining obviously, but its not solely from the goodness of your heart that you’re throwing money up here.
Irish (Republic) Citizens living in Northern Ireland are entitled to all the same rights as any Irish citizen not living within the jurisdiction of the state, and I think you'll agree with me that Northern Ireland does not fall under the jurisdiction of the President of Ireland.
I personally would wholeheartedly agree that it’s not; the point though, is not what I, as a Unionist, think or believe. The nationalists of Northern Ireland maintain and believe that they belong to the Irish nation, their allegiance and the loyalty is to the Republic not the UK. The difference between them and the overseas irish citizens you mention is that they are Irish citizens actually living on the island of Ireland. I know the ROI admitted reality at the time of Belfast Agreement and dropped their claim to the 6 NE counties, but still, McAleese is the President of Ireland, not the ROI and as someone pointed out to me this week the ROI describes itself as “Ireland” on its passports, Embassys etc. So I can quite understand why the Junior SDLPers are peeved with the situation.
Re the postal voting for overseas citizens, I’m surprised that it doesn’t exist. I’ve voted before when I’ve been out of the UK and whilst I know the logistics may make it harder for the ROI to use the same system, I’m sure they could make use of friendly embassies in those countries where they don’t have one.
The granting of citizenship and passports is a reflection of the law here, nothing more and nothing less.
And who exactly has the responsibility for making or changing that law?
And incidently, were the SDLPers correct in saying that none of the major parties in the ROI even has a policy on the issue?
So let me see if i have got this right You would not be against them having the right to vote in Irish Presidental elections.Oh and where do you stand on the Derry/Londonderry name issue
So let me see if i have got this right You would not be against them having the right to vote in Irish Presidental elections.
I think you've missed the point of the post. It's not me, the big bad Unionists or the British government denying them that *right*, it's the ROI's government- there's a message there for Irish nationalists living in NI.
Oh and where do you stand on the Derry/Londonderry name issue
My grandmother, who was the truest blue Unionist you'd ever be priviledged to meet was born and brought up in Londonderry/Derry, she called it both names, so, like her I don't get too hung up about it.
I think the fact that it is now the most religiously segregated city in Western Europe is of more importance, don't you?
Ok so lets say the Irish goverment grant them that right.Would you object
Ok so lets say the Irish goverment grant them that right.Would you object
I'm not sure they'd care one way or the other even if I did...but anyway, as was pointed out earlier in this thread, Polish people have the right to vote in presidential elections when they are living outside Poland, citizens of the US have the same right.
So if I am a citizen of the Republic of Ireland living in a foreign country why shouldn't I have that same right?
If such a right were to be granted however, I'd make it conditional on the Republic's government acknowledging the reality that they are the government of the ROI not "Ireland", the President is not the President of "Ireland" but of the ROI. Irish citizens in Northern Ireland would therefore be voting for the President of the Republic of Ireland, a president of a foreign country.
Might mean changing a few embassy names and having to update the stationary. Might even mean standing on a few of the more *traditionalist* toes, but...
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