Sir, – Your editorial of May 30th talks of those "abroad, but part of us" and inclines toward enfranchising emigrants. I am inclined to say "abroad, and so apart from us".
As a former emigrant myself, I believe that those who permanently live abroad leave behind certain rights when they wave goodbye.
As a current inhabitant, I do not want the evolution of the State influenced by the fond nostalgia and whimsical sincerity of those abroad.
No taxation without representation? No representation without taxation! If emigrants want a vote they know where they need to live in order to have one. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL SINNOTT,
Dublin 12.
Sir, –As an Irish emigrant for the last 47 years, I was glad to read the title of your editorial on votes for Irish emigrants. But the sting was in the tail.
Every morning, here in the remote mountains of Mozambique, I read the papers on the net and over coffee I discuss the news from home with my two Irish confreres. I was saddened to read your editorial suggestion that my vote, and the votes of many others like me, will not be contemplated in the debate about allowing Irish emigrants to vote, as we happen to be here more than “15 years after moving abroad”. Why this exclusion? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN HOLMES
Redemptorist Mission,
Furancungo, Mozambique.
Sir, – Diarmaid Ferriter ("Government stuck in a time warp on votes for emigrants", Opinion & Analysis, May 30th) is the latest to call for an extension of voting rights to emigrants, a sentiment echoed in your editorial of the same day.
This outbreak of groupthink seems to have been prompted by the publicity given to those who returned home to vote in the same-sex marriage referendum.
More specifically, the publicity given to those who came home to vote the “right” way.
There must also have been people who came home to vote No, though given the prevailing moral climate they may have felt less than enthusiastic about making a song and dance about it. On the basis of this once-off phenomenon, which was almost certainly exaggerated by the media, the commentariat has declared that voting rights in referendums should be extended to emigrants.
The commentariat might like to ponder how it would feel on the issue if same-sex marriage had been rejected by a slender majority, with postal No votes from abroad tipping the balance. This would represent a far greater democratic deficit that that which supposedly exists at present.
Is it really fair that a person who, for example, has been in Australia for the past 20 years has an equal say to a person living, working and paying their taxes here? – Yours, etc,
DAVID SLATER,
Kilkea, Co Kildare.
Sir, – I am delighted to see the issue of votes for emigrants finally getting a serious airing in the media. Emigrants have much to offer their native land. – Yours, etc,
MAEVE O’BRIEN,
London.