Fine Gael - 6 County Voters to be allowed vote for Irish President.

[Shamrock Shore]

How would Sammy Unionist get to nominate a candidate?

Current rules are (approx)

1. Outgoing president (once only)
2. 20 Oirechtas nominations
3. Some number (10 perhaps) local authority votes.

Another Fine Gael brain fart.

[saffron sam2]

wouldn't it be gas if all the Unionists voted and their candidate won?

What would be wrong with that? They (Unionists) are as Irish as the rest of us.

[Ulick]

What would be wrong with that? They (Unionists) are as Irish as the rest of us.

Indeed. I'd vote for a May Blood over a Mary Robinson any day of the week.

[stephenite]

Shrewd move by the Blueshirts which will win them quite a few SF transfers. Logistically there  shouldn't be a problem as it could all be done by post or even electronically though I would question whether there is a need to change the constitution to allow for it.

This could however open a can of worms in terms of the millions of us based overseas who wouldn't mind an 'aul vote every now and then. The line always was that there were far too many people in the world that would be entitled to Irish citizenship for allowing the overseas it as it would be impossible to co-ordinate. If people from a different jurisdiction are entitled to vote than surely the proximity of that jurisdiction couldn't be used as an excuse for granting this right to them alone

[mylestheslasher]

FG getting SF transfers, I don't think so more likely trying to woo the more republican elements of FF.

How do you figure that when FF had been blocking the SF push for this measure for years?

I reckon because FG are the most anti SF party in the south. This week when Enda got heckled in Carrick on Shannon his handlers told the media it was a brother of O Snodaigh that did it (which was a lie). They are on the record as being totally against doing business with SF. I would be shocked if there was more than 10% of SF voters giving a No 2 to FG and even more shocked if FG were making a conscious decision to try and get No 2's of SF. Its a bit like SF making a gesture to allow unionists into the ancient order of hibernians to try and get votes from the DUP.

One final thing worth considering. The new SF voters are not neccessarily republican at all but people looking for an alternative voice when considering the bailout. Quite a lot of them, i'd imagine, couldn't care less if northerners got to vote for the presidential elections.

[dublinfella]

This could however open a can of worms in terms of the millions of us based overseas who wouldn't mind an 'aul vote every now and then. The line always was that there were far too many people in the world that would be entitled to Irish citizenship for allowing the overseas it as it would be impossible to co-ordinate. If people from a different jurisdiction are entitled to vote than surely the proximity of that jurisdiction couldn't be used as an excuse for granting this right to them alone

No, the argument was always 'no representatin without taxation'. Why should emigrants get a vote and not have to deal with the consequences of that vote.

However, the Presidency is a different dynnamic than general elections, so I can see this one flying.

[stephenite]

Fair enough point Dublinfella but it's not without precedence, all Australians are entitled to vote regardless of their location, and I'm pretty sure there are others.
I'm far from against the idea, and you're correct that the Presidency is a different kettle of fish, so with that in mind I suppose my point still stands. If people in the North get to vote for a President, all elegible Irish people should have the same right regardless of their location.

[Ulick]

I reckon because FG are the most anti SF party in the south. This week when Enda got heckled in Carrick on Shannon his handlers told the media it was a brother of O Snodaigh that did it (which was a lie). They are on the record as being totally against doing business with SF. I would be shocked if there was more than 10% of SF voters giving a No 2 to FG and even more shocked if FG were making a conscious decision to try and get No 2's of SF. Its a bit like SF making a gesture to allow unionists into the ancient order of hibernians to try and get votes from the DUP.

One final thing worth considering. The new SF voters are not neccessarily republican at all but people looking for an alternative voice when considering the bailout. Quite a lot of them, i'd imagine, couldn't care less if northerners got to vote for the presidential elections.

But as this move has never been a FF policy or even on the FF radar it doesn't figure that it's an attempt to win FF transfers.

With regards to FG being the most anti-SF party, that's the accepted wisdom but one I don't necessarily accept and hasn't been my experience. In the past I've canvassed on behalf of SF in parts of Dublin, Kildare and Roscommon and without doubt the most amenable of the other Parties I met were the canvassers from FG. To be frank about it, the FF and Labour people wouldn't piss on SF people if they were on fire even though they would be perceived to be ideologically closer to the SF position, but you'd often have a bit of banter with the FG canvassers. Now I know this doesn't mean much but public utterances pre-election day are only for the optics as you could be damn sure that if the numbers stacked up for FG to do a deal with SF rather than the numerically superior Labour Party it would be considered - likewise with FF. You only have to look at how FG went into government with IRA man Sean McBrides Clann na Poblachta in 1948 or the Rainbow Coalition which incorporated the OIRA Democratic Left.

[dublinfella]

Fair enough point Dublinfella but it's not without precedence, all Australians are entitled to vote regardless of their location, and I'm pretty sure there are others.
I'm far from against the idea, and you're correct that the Presidency is a different kettle of fish, so with that in mind I suppose my point still stands. If people in the North get to vote for a President, all elegible Irish people should have the same right regardless of their location.

I don't disagree with allowing Irish citizens overseas vote for the President

I do have a major problem with tehm voting in general elections though

[armaghniac]

If people in the North get to vote for a President, all elegible Irish people should have the same right regardless of their location.

If you emigrate, that's your choice. You then lose the right to vote for people in Ireland. Being occupied by the British is not a choice.

[All of a Sludden]

If you emigrate, that's your choice. You then lose the right to vote for people in Ireland. Being occupied by the British is not a choice.

Was there anything stopping you or your ancestors moving from the occupied part of the country?

[Rouge_Diablo]

If you emigrate, that's your choice. You then lose the right to vote for people in Ireland. Being occupied by the British is not a choice.

Was there anything stopping you or your ancestors moving from the occupied part of the country?

having to live near people like you?