New referendum on dispora voting due

I’m not sure this is a sincere question? Think about it for 30 seconds?

People keep saying the word seconded. I know many people who took opportunities abroad within their companies. None of them were forced. The term seconded is a bit....

The longer someone has been out of the country, the more out of touch they are with the reality on the ground, and the less likely they are to vote in the interests of those of us who do live here. The Ireland they know is mostly one with rose-tinted glasses, quite removed from the Ireland that exists now. How many people who emigrated in the 1980s would have voted against abortion or divorce, or gay marriage for example. They may have thought, "These aren't the values of the Ireland I know".

I don't see the logic in allowing emigrants to vote tbh. Elections decide policy within the borders of the country. If that's not going to effect you, then shouldn't be entitled to a vote. I can see why a five-year buffer should be permitted. Someone who's gone less than five years is more likely to return - and be affected by the result of their vote - than someone who's been gone longer.

I'd rather see elections opened more broadly to non-citizens who've been here a certain amount of time. Why can't people who've been here for a decade vote in a General election? The outcome of those votes affects them and their family as much as any of us.

I'm generally in favour of some of the diaspora having a vote in the Presidential election.

It shouldn't be open to all passport holders, it should be open to those who have been resident in Ireland at most 15 years ago. Someone who has inherited an Irish passport because their Granny came to the states should not have a say in our elections at all if they haven't lived here.

If it were to be extended to general elections I think there should be a diaspora constituency with a max of 3 seats. Again same limitations of Irish Citizens who have lived on the Island not less than 15 years ago.

‘I employ 50 people, they only pay tax because I give it to them. Can I have 51 votes”

That's gas tbh. Because I also know a few who done well abroad and are more than happy to sit on boards including Failte Ireland.

Don't pretend it's a chore that's nonsense. Getting 'tapped' up by the IDA isn't as you portray it. Mutual two way jersey wearing is the reality.

Agreed - some here opine that non-residents deserve equal say as residents in matters pertaining exclusively to the Irish state!

I'm probably going to regret even contributing to this thread, and this might even be my only post. It's mostly spurred by the notion that an ex-pat like myself who is living in aboard, earning a living in a separate tax system, is somehow not connected to Ireland and is not contributing

I left Ireland during the Rescission to find work with a decent living wage. It had become near impossible to do that in Ireland in my field and so I had a choice between the Dole or getting work abroad, which I did.

During that time, my parents fell into extremely difficult times, resulting in my sending a large portion of my earnings back to Ireland to keep their mortgage going and to ensure that they had enough to eat. Things got better thankfully, but there was a long slog where much of my already heavily taxed income was destined to leave my pocket to satisfy payments to an Irish bank.

In later years, when I was down to one parent I had to start doing it again to top-up my father's small state pension, so he could pay the bills.

I have established a family where I live, so the move is permanent. Many holidays are to Ireland as opposed to warmer destinations, where of course we spend cash. I am however still an Irish citizen and it may still be while yet before I get local citizenship and be able to vote in national elections, I still follow the situation in Ireland and how it might impact the family I still have there.

The fact that I have left Ireland does not mean that Ireland has left me, if anything my separation has made it matter more. The notion that I do not pay Irish income tax on my wage slip does not mean that I don't contribute to Ireland. If we were using money-given as metric surely I contribute more to the Irish Nation that some members of Irish society who would gladly never work a day while they sit in their "Forever Homes" and yet still have the right to vote.

If a child of mine grows up and leaves the nest, I won't continue to give them a say in what brand of cornflakes we buy in the house. For the same reason, I wouldn't be in favour of granting a say in the running of the country to people who don't live in it.

Because they themselves won't have to live with the results of their choices - but others will have to.

OK, so you also don't want anyone who lives in the country and doesn't pay income tax to have a vote either?

Were you born an Earl in 1820?

Good points.

I don't think anyone is proposing to give a vote to the tens of millions of the Irish Diaspora, so people can put those pitchforks away.

This proposal is for Irish born people who are now residents abroad. There will also be a time-limit of such like most other countries on how long you retain that right to vote from abroad.

The counter to this is the Dinosaur view. Those that will be on the wrong side of history.

This is an amazing mindset in fairness that must be unique to Irish people. Using the term, 'Suffer the consequences' shows how deeply conservative and negative many in this country are as if going to the polling booth and casting a vote, is somehow going to be met with some penance or service after the fact.

"Only us Irish people can suffer the consequences, not you lads over there!"

It's an amazing insight into the mindset which actually explains a lot about this country and how it is run. The thing is, most people don't realise it.