Thread by @SharedIreland

What does it mean to be an equal citizen with the rest of your country?

An important part of the fight for civil rights in the North was equal voting rights. To this day, not every person who is #Irish can vote for our president.

Why is this?

A thread - 1/12

#VoteForTheVote

The centenary event in Armagh last year sparked much debate.
@PresidentIRL said that he was 'incorrectly referred to as president of the Republic of Ireland, not president of Ireland.'
Isn't it only fair that everyone in Ireland gets the chance to vote for who is President?
2/12

On the #SharedIreland podcast in 2019 @NiallSF described how ‘the president isn’t the president of a landmass…they’re representative of the Irish people and the Irish people are broader than the 26-county state.'

3/12 soundcloud.com/sharedireland/…

While Northerners may not be able to vote, the three largest parties in the South have all ran Northern candidates.
As President, Mary McAleese focused on building bridges throughout Ireland. This included hosting events to mark the 12th of July.

4/12 irishexaminer.com/news/arid-2000…

Mary Robinson displayed a candle on the window of Áras an Uachtaráin to show the Irish people abroad that they are remembered, and they are welcome home.

Giving Irish citizens abroad a Presidential vote will show that they are as important as everyone living on our island.

5/12

#HomeToVote made international news during the Repeal the 8th referendum. Ireland is one of only four EU states not to provide citizens overseas with the right to vote in European elections. Americans living overseas can also vote for their President.
6/12
european-elections.eu/how-to-vote/fr…

@NiallSF spoke about the possibility of a referendum in 2019 which was never held.
Speaking to #SharedIreland @cjhumanrights called for generosity towards Irish people abroad because of the contribution they make to Ireland in business and diplomacy.

7/12 soundcloud.com/sharedireland/…

@MargaretWard1 spoke about worries citizens might have if people who are less aware of Irish issues have the right to vote. To avoid opposition to extending voting rights, legislation must clearly outline who can vote and who can run for President.

8/12
soundcloud.com/sharedireland/…

In 2019 @NealeRichmond described how he hoped that all Irish citizens would be voting in the next Presidential election.
In #GE2020, only @FineGael and @sinnfeinireland supported the extension of voting rights to citizens in the North and overseas.

9/12 soundcloud.com/sharedireland/…

In 2020, the Irish government outlined that they would 'hold a referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State.'
Almost two years on, no date has been set for the holding of a referendum.

What is the delay?

10/12

A #SharedIreland is one where everyone has the same rights & responsibilities.
In 2022 not every Irish citizen has the right to vote for the President. Elected representatives have a responsibility to legislate #SetADate & hold a vote on extending Presidential voting rights
11/12

Email, tweet, tag and contact your local TDs, Senators & other elected representatives.

Ask them what they are doing to make sure every Irish citizen has the chance to vote for our President and ask them to set a date for a referendum.

#SetADate

12/12

@LdnIrishARC @PresidentIRL @VICAcampaign @GlobalIrish @dfairl @irishinbritain @irishamerica @merrionstreet @IrishEmigrant @irishcentral @votingrightsie @benkellytweets
@finegael @fiannafailparty @greenparty_ie @sinnfeinireland @aontuie @labour @socdems @pb4p