Should the right to vote for the President of Ireland be extended to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland?

By Alannah Henry

Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's First Minister, seen with Gerry Adams, the party's former leader, last year. Image: Brian Lawless/PA

Whether Irish citizens in Northern Ireland should be granted the right to vote for the

Irish president has become a topical debate across the island. This motion was

initially raised in Northern Ireland, by Irish Republican party Sinn Féin in Stormont,

with First Minister Michelle O’Neill asserting that this lack of voting rights is ‘a glaring

anomaly’. Following the approval of Stormont, it was subsequently submitted in the

Republic by Aontú in the Dail.

For some, allowing Irish citizens in Northern Ireland to vote for the President of

Ireland would be a logical and democratic development. It could be seen as an

extension to a key pillar of the Good Friday Agreement; recognising the right of those

in the six counties to exercise the Irish citizenship they are entitled to, if they so wish

to activate it. However, the motion has drawn considerable opposition by others,

namely Unionists, who view it as a threat to Northern Ireland’s sovereign status in

the United Kingdom, as well as citing the President’s lack of authority in this

jurisdiction.

There are nuances to this discourse which make it so divisive. For one, it is correct

that the President of Ireland acts as head of state solely for the Republic of Ireland.

However, this is a largely ceremonial role. The President serves as a representative

for Ireland both locally and overseas, and whilst it is a democratically elected

position, the Taoiseach is instead the head of government. Therefore, political

decisions affecting residents of the Republic could not be contributed to, or impeded

by, those in Northern Ireland.

Furthermore, whilst the vote has not yet been extended to Northern Ireland, Irish

citizens in the Northern Ireland are themselves eligible to stand for President, with

Mary McAleese having served as president from 1997 to 2011. This strengthens the

argument of enabling citizens in the North’s involvement in selecting Ireland’s key

representative, validating the Irish identity held by many, with the President having

made regular visits to Northern Ireland since the 1990s.

However, the idea that the introduction of Presidential voting rights in Northern

Ireland could cause further tensions between the Nationalist and Unionist

communities has also been presented. Jim Wells, formed Member of the Legislative

Assembly for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), predicted that this could be

‘disruptive’, causing the largely Nationalist voter base to instate a Sinn Féin

president. As the bill would only extend to those who have ‘activated’ their Irish

citizenship via obtaining a recognition of citizenship like an Irish passport, this would

leave those who are solely British nationals in Northern Ireland, and therefore likely

to vote for other candidates, ineligible. Nevertheless, key Unionist figures expressing

opposition to the bill suggests that many of those who strongly identify with their

British identity would not recognise the President of Ireland and be unlikely to wish to

vote.

However, there have also been calls for those who desire the vote to ‘take up

residency’ in the Republic of Ireland by North Down MP Alex Easton, citing the lack

of constitutional authority of the President in Northern Ireland. Indeed, becoming a

resident of the Republic of Ireland would give those who wish to be included in the

constitutional process of their direct head of state this entitlement.

Whether or not this bill will be successful in its aim remains to be seen. If it is

passed, extending the rote to vote in Presidential elections to Irish citizens in

Northern Ireland is likely to be a lengthy process, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin

suggesting that this would require a change to the Irish constitution, which would

necessitate a referendum. A referendum would empower the implementation of

direct democracy, ensuring individuals’ personal opinions on the matter are

considered. If this outcome is achieved, the vote would not be administered before

the election of Michael D. Higgins’ successor later this year, instead acting for the

first time in the 2032 election.

I believe that the 700,000 Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, as well as anyone who

may wish to obtain this citizenship, regardless of political persuasion, should have

the right to vote for the Irish president. Whilst the views of Unionists who cite their

allegiance to Britain and would not want to participate in this election should of

course be respected, allowing Irish citizens to vote would not, and should not,

infringe on their rights in any way.

Image: Brian Lawless/PA