O’Neill Calls for Voting Rights for Northern Ireland in Irish Presidential Elections

Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has asserted that the upcoming Irish presidential election must be the last in which residents of Northern Ireland are excluded from voting. O’Neill emphasized the inconsistency of being able to stand for the presidency while lacking the right to vote in the same election, describing it as a “huge gap” that must be addressed.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Belfast, on October 23, 2023, O’Neill’s remarks come in the wake of comments made by Emma Little-Pengelly, the deputy First Minister, who expressed her opposition to allowing Northern Ireland residents to participate in the presidential election. Little-Pengelly stated that Northern Ireland has its own head of state, referring to the King, and cautioned against blurring the lines between political reality and aspiration.

O’Neill replied to these comments, acknowledging their disagreement on the issue. “As an Irish citizen, the irony is all this debate is the fact that I as an Irish citizen can stand for the office of Uachtarain na hEireann, but cannot vote in that election,” she said. She called for a change, stressing the need for Northern citizens to be afforded the right to vote as part of the Irish electorate.

Mary Lou McDonald, president of Sinn Fein, joined O’Neill at the press conference and expressed her disappointment over the situation. “It’s a great pity that in this election again citizens north of the border can’t elect their president,” McDonald stated. She highlighted the irony that individuals from Northern Ireland could be elected to the presidency but remain unable to cast a vote for it.

The issue of voting rights for Irish citizens living outside the Republic was previously addressed in a 2013 constitutional convention, which recommended extending the voting franchise. Such a change would necessitate a referendum to amend the constitution. Although a vote was initially scheduled for 2019, it was postponed due to the complexities arising from post-Brexit negotiations, particularly concerning the Irish border.

Sinn Fein has actively urged the Irish Government to prioritize this issue, yet no new commitments for a referendum have been established. The exclusion of Northern Ireland residents from voting in the presidential election continues to be a point of contention and a symbol of the broader discussions regarding citizenship rights and representation across the island of Ireland.

As O’Neill and McDonald advocate for change, they underscore the importance of rectifying this “deficit” in representation. Both leaders remain determined to ensure that the upcoming election marks a turning point in the voting rights debate, framing it as a fundamental aspect of citizenship for those living in Northern Ireland.