Earlier today Ógra Shinn Féin held a demonstration outside Leinster House demanding that voting rights for the Irish Presidential Election be extended to Irish citizens of the six counties.
Members of ÓSF wearing GAA jerseys from each of Ireland's 32 counties took part in the event with those wearing the colours of the six-county teams wearing gags to symbolize the fact that Irish citizens living in Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry and Armagh have no say in the election.
Speaking at the event, Dublin Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe, pointed out that under the current rules President Mary McAleese would have been unable to vote for herself. Deputy Crowe also called on each of the Presidential candidates to indicate their position regarding the issue.
Ógra Shinn Féin National Organiser, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, called on the southern government to extend voting rights to Irish citizens living in the six counties in time for the Presedential Election later this year adding that: "as the President of Ireland represents the Irish people, it is only logical that all Irish citizens should have the right to decide on who the president should be."
3 comments:
There is one giant elephant in the room and it is one that Ógra Shinn Féin are adequately addressing. Irish citizens in the "Six Counties" are residing in an integral part of another country, namely the United Kingdom. As a result Irish citizens living in the UK do not pay taxes to the government of the Irish Republic in Dublin.
No taxation without representation? Yep, looks like it...
Nice to see that Keith is still obsessed with our work :)
Exactly Kevin. The UK already has a head of State. Citizens in Northern Ireland or further afield do not vote in the Republics elections or pay taxes to the Republics exchequer.
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