Sir, – Fr Joe McVeigh (Letters, February 21st) writes that “the President is President for all of Ireland”. But the Constitution, in calling him “President of Ireland”, states that he “shall take precedence over all other persons in the State” (Article 12).
It does not give him any functions in relation to Northern Ireland.
Why then should people in Northern Ireland have the right to vote for him?
And it is probable that the majority there would not exercise that right even if it were granted to them.
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It is perhaps something of an insult to the presidency to extend to people outside the State the right to vote for president without also giving them the right to vote for the Dáil. It suggests that the presidency is so unimportant that it really doesn’t matter who has the right to vote for it. – Yours, etc,
JOHN GOODWILLIE,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – I wonder if Simon Ball (Letters, February 22nd) has forgotten that, under the Belfast Agreement, people in Northern Ireland can choose to be Irish, British or both. As an Irish passport holder, I would love to be able to vote for the person I consider to be my head of state. This is not only denied to those of us who consider ourselves to be Irish, but as King Charles is a hereditary monarch, it’s a right that is also denied to those who consider themselves to be British. – Yours, etc,
DANNY BOYD,
Belfast.