Galway emigrant seeks Seanad seat

A Galway-born, London-based Seanad hopeful has called on candidates running in the General Election in Connacht to back voting rights for Irish emigrants abroad.

Barry Johnston, who was born in Ballinasloe before moving to London nearly five years ago, is also a member of the Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad Campaign.

He is the first person to run for the Seanad while living overseas.

“Counties in the west of Ireland have been hit hard by emigration for many generations. The latest wave of people to leave during the recession is no different,” he said.

“Those seeking election will be on the doorstep day in, day out for the coming weeks seeking every single. But they should spare a moment to think of those absent voices who will have no say in this election.

“Candidates should make a pledge that never again will Ireland go into an election that excludes so many of its citizens.

“I also ask voters to think of their loved ones abroad during the election, and to raise this issue with politicians who come knocking on their doors,” he added.

One in six Irish-born people live abroad – this highest proportion of any developed nation. Nearly 130 countries allow their citizens to vote while overseas, but Ireland does not.

Barry Johnston’s Right to Vote Postcard gives voters the information to question their candidates in the 2016 general election about the continuing disenfranchisement of Irish citizens who live abroad.

The Postcard describes how the Irish State has been criticized by the OECD and the European Commission for continuing to exclude its citizens abroad from its democratic processes.

It also emphasizes how enfranchising Irish citizens abroad can help to offset the losses to Irish society caused by large-scale economic migration.

But the postcard also references the recent Home to Vote campaign during the marriage equality referendum which showed the great appetite of Irish citizens abroad for participation in Irish elections and referenda.