Immigration Bill 2002 to change

by iosaf who has to say it again. Sun Jan 12, 2003 17:55

A border has never defined a nation.
ne plus ultra?

by iosaf Sun Jan 12, 2003 17:52 barcelona.

They have gone in order of population density to:

London and England
Scotland
USA
Australia
Canada
Europe.
in Europe the largest communties of Irish are in
London, Munich, Paris.

None of these Irish have votes in the Irish state.
All other european citizens can vote for their state. Ireland is the only european union member state that does not afford postal votes to its citizens resident outside the state.

Irish citizens resident in the UK may vote in UK elections due to the common area agreement between Ireland and the UK established in 1949.

The Irish are immigrants.
only a rump are left in Ireland.

It is arguable that the finest minds and talent of the Irish nation have long ago left. They have not demonstrated any real wish to return either.
Celtic Tiger or not.

Not until the Irish resident in the Irish states recognise that the majority of the Irish are disenfranchised will the Irish begin to enjoy the sort of governance they have consistently sought.

Sorry but it´s true.
(I do not count myself as one the finest Irish minds that left by the way).

There have been many campaigns to allow voting rights to the "diasporia".
All have failed.

In the past most concentrated on the Irish American community.

Now it would seem more in keeping with our EU membership and status to seek full citizen rights for those Irish citizens who are resident in other EU states.

In the past the established parties in Ireland resisted voting rights for the diasoria because it was felt that they would ignorantly vote for the "wrong parties" such as any leftwing alternative available or god forbid Sinn Fein.

And that is the truth.

I would like the right to vote.
I´m not sure I would vote but I want the right.
And every Irish citizen I have met resident in Europe wants the right too.
It is as much a result of the failed policies of the established parties Fianna Fail, Fine GAel, Labour and most recently Prgressive Democrats that the majority of us left. It was not only for a better sex life.

by confused Fri Jan 10, 2003 21:41

but the Irish are emmigrants not immigrants

by have to say it. Fri Jan 10, 2003 18:28

the Irish should know that.