Results 161-180 of 1,131,236 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:John McGuinness OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Michael Lowry OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Micheál Martin OR speaker:Ossian Smyth OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Thomas Byrne OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Cathal Berry OR speaker:Paul Murphy OR speaker:Marc MacSharry OR speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan OR speaker:James O'Connor OR speaker:Richard Bruton OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Holly Cairns OR speaker:Alan Kelly OR speaker:Joe McHugh OR speaker:Alan Dillon OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Patricia Ryan OR speaker:Pa Daly OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Martin Heydon OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Seán Crowe)

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Pat Buckley: It is because they will not-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Pat Buckley: There is a lack of political will. It would involve amending the Electoral Act 1963. I have just marked it in my notes to flag the matter. We can see whether that can be changed. As out guests have said, the digital age is so advanced now that I cannot see major costs being incurred.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Pat Buckley: People would log on to a Government website.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Pat Buckley: People in Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand or wherever could log on to MyGovID, type in their PPS number and passport number, show their ID and cast their vote.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: The opening statement mentions that the Irish diaspora stay connected to their homeland through their parents and family. Some of them have property. Do our guests think granting this voting right would increase that interest and connection with Ireland overall?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: If they are making decisions, that will have an impact.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: Yes, they can vote by proxy now.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: People can nominate someone else to vote in their place. It is called a proxy vote.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: Before the petitioners go any further, I wish to let them know about the permanent postal or proxy vote. To apply for a permanent postal or proxy vote, one must have a valid reason. It includes the following: illness or disability, being away from home for education reasons, and being away from home for reasons of work or employment. That is the system in Northern Ireland for nominating a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: In Northern Ireland, the proxy vote applies to the general public even. I could nominate a family member or somebody in the community-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: Yes.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: That is the postal vote for Defence Forces personnel who are out of the country.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: It is crazy in that if Martha and I were outside the country at the same time, and I were on holidays and she on business, she could vote while I would not be able to do so. It makes no sense. If you can vote when out of the country for work, why should you not be able to vote if you are out of the country on holiday. There is no difference.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: Given the way in which hacking is occurring, do the petitioners believe Internet voting is the safest way to proceed? There is a big possibility of hacking, as we saw in the HSE and elsewhere.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: I totally agree.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: That might not be until the new year, unless the Senator has a bit of information-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: It is still coming; I totally agree with the Senator.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: I imagine every one of us in this room has had someone belonging to us-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: -----in the circumstances in question. We are baby-sitting a dog at the minute for a niece of my wife. She is gone for 18 months. We think she intends to come back, but we are stuck with the dog. On what the committee can do, we could contact a Minister and try to put on pressure. Everybody here, and most people we talk to, agree with the petitioners that there are appropriate systems...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Voting for Irish-born Citizens Abroad: Discussion (17 Oct 2024)

Martin Browne: At that stage, you will have decided whether you are staying or coming home.