Presidential voting rights referendum welcomed by Newry MLA | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Presidential voting rights referendum welcomed by Newry MLA

ireland flagSDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty has welcomed An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s announcement that a referendum on Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and across the world will take place.

Hesaid that the role of President of Ireland is about representing not just the South, but all Irish people, and that citizens in the North should have a voice in choosing that person.


 

McNulty said, “This week’s announcement by An Taoiseach is an important step in recognising the immense contribution that Irish citizens and communities across the world make to our island.

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Go For It March 2017“It is a timely announcement in the week that Irishness is celebrated all over the world during the St Patrick’s Day celebrations. “The voice of An Uachtarán speaks for far more than the state, it is the voice of the Irish people.

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March 10th 2017“It is fitting that Irish people across the world, whether they’re in Boston or Belfast, Dublin or Derrynoose, should have an equal stake in who holds that office,” he insisted.


 

“The story of this island and of the Irish people is one of travel and traversing the globe. The Irish are famous for integrating with and positively contributing to and influencing communities across the globe.

“And like no other people, Irish citizens remember and cherish their roots. It would be a powerful statement of acceptance for our global diaspora if they were to be granted a vote.


 

“And it would be a significant endorsement of the principle of self-determination that secured support for peace in the North if our Irish citizens were given the right to choose our President. Mary McAleese was an outstanding President, and yet her family and friends from this part of Ireland could not even vote for her. The time is right to move on this issue,” the local MLA added.

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Posted by on Mar 21 2017. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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