One thing should be very clear to the Irish diaspora. Despite widespread invoking of the diaspora as part of a modern globalised Ireland by two successive Irish presidents, by the Irish government when it seeks to use its diaspora for economic leverage, and by Irish Ambassadors as they seek to promulgate the idea of ‘the global Irish family’ if you don’t live in Ireland you can’t vote in an election or referendum.

The current interpretation of the Constitutional position is that only citizens who are also residents can vote. Article 16 of the Irish Constitution states that:

All citizens, and such persons in the State as may be determined by law, without distinction of sex who have reached the age of eighteen years who are not disqualified by law and comply with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of Dáil Éireann, shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann.