SDLP Youth: One President, One Island, One Vote

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Thursday January 31, 2008 15:08

by SDLP Youth - SDLP Youth

SDLP Youth activists have mounted a demonstration at the Dáil calling for northerners to be allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections.

SDLP Youth on RTE Six One News

Speaking at the event, SDLP Youth Chairperson Gary McKeown said, “People living in the north have the right to identify themselves as Irish, so it is only fair that they should be allowed to vote for their head of state. This is in-keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthens democracy. We believe that anyone who is eligible to vote in the north should be allowed to cast a ballot in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

“This should not be seen as an attempt to undermine the right of unionists on this island to identify themselves as British. It is simply aimed at providing people in the North of Ireland with the democratic right to vote for the President of Ireland alongside their counterparts in the Republic. Indeed, it is ironic that our current President is from the north- we have a ridiculous situation at present whereby someone from the north can stand for President, yet people living in that part of the island can’t actually vote in the election.”

The Newry Representative continued, “The SDLP has the strongest track record of developing cross-border links and working with our partners in the Republic to build a better future for everyone on this island. This SDLP Youth campaign promotes an all-island normalisation agenda which respects everyone’s rights and strengthens democratic participation on an all-Ireland basis. By working with other parties, we believe that a resolution to this issue can be found more quickly.”

Magherafelt SDLP Youth Member John O’Doherty concluded adding, “We had invited representatives from all the main parties elected in the south to join us at this demonstration. It was disappointing that we were told by most of them that their respective parties have no policy on this matter. I would urge all parties to think in an All Ireland context on such issues and to join with us in the fight to secure voting rights for people living in the northern counties.”