Mayo councillor's proposal to give Irish citizens in North presidential election vote is rejected

A proposal to give Irish citizens in the North a say in who becomes President of Ireland has been rejected by Mayo County Council.

Aontú Councillor Deirdre Lawless tabled a motion calling on the government to introduce legislation to facilitate a referendum to allow Irish citizens living in the North of Ireland to vote in Irish presidential elections.

However, the motion was defeated by 15 votes to seven, with the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members voting against the move.

The Good Friday Agreement gave people born in the North the right to Irish citizenship, and while they have the right to stand for election they cannot vote.

It was anti-democratic, said Councillor Lawless, who also pointed out how the majority in the south support a united Ireland.

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray seconded the motion.

Fianna Fáil's Councillor Damien Ryan said he supported the ethos of a border poll but in this case, our boundaries are our boundaries, and you should with within the constituency to vote in it.

He couldn't support this. The jurisdiction is the jurisdiction.

Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said they talked about democracy yet wouldn't let people who carry Irish passports vote in our elections as they might live a mile across the border or in other countries. Yet in the local elections, we allow people with no connections, passing through, to vote.

He was 'amazed' at the Republican party saying Northern Ireland is not party of the Irish constituency.

A lot of people had got Irish passports after Brexit, said Councillor Gerry Coyle (FG).

We have our own people who have been 'exported' who should have a right to vote, he commented.

After the vote was taken, Councillor Kilcoyne said he hoped those against, the next time they are visiting the diaspora, that they will tell them how they voted.

He was told this has nothing to do with the diaspora.