40 Comments

• JohnKinMD | Jul 12, 2011, 04:38 PM EDT

  Well said Stumptown.

• STUMPTOWN | Mar 11, 2011, 12:16 PM EST

  A emigrant is a lawful person that becomes a citizen of a new country is THEN a emigrant of the persons old country. I welcome all emigrants in THEIR new country, the USA and hope they have a full and happy life. ANY PERSON THAT ENTERS ANY COUNTRY UNLAWFULLY IS A ILLEGAL PERSON IN THAT COUNTRY. The USA has a invasion of over 12,000,000 ILLEGALS who are all in violation of USA law as well as takeing good jobs from Americans for scab wages by their law violating employers as the American taxpayers pick up the illegal's tab. It is against USA federal law to hire or rent to ILLEGALS. The dogooder groups that speakout for the ILEGALS and turn around and claim tax exempt paying no taxes need to have the TAX EXAMPT law repeled so that they would have total freedom of speech account of the tax exampt law's rules dealing with speaking politally. The only country in Europe without homeless or ILLEGALS is the Vatican.

• FallsRNat | Feb 18, 2011, 05:27 PM EST

  i'm sorry, but why should they have a vote & elect a party with say a minority of 1-2 votes, thereby influencing the outcome of the general election & in the meantime, not paying irish taxes or contributing to the wealth of the nation.

• jacersagain | Feb 17, 2011, 04:29 PM EST

  @Watchman Feb 1st - sorry you decided to drop posts on ICentral; I've always paid much attention to them and held them in high regard. I agree that since sirpeter and his ilk appeared on the scene, the language and quality of posts has deteriorated considerably. One wonders if ICentral has a Moderator to stop abusive posts. (For info: Watchman is, by his own admission, Walter Ellis, one of Ireland's finest writers from Nth Ireland.)

• jacersagain | Feb 17, 2011, 04:21 PM EST

  There’s a sub-section of the Irish Electoral Act 1992 entitled “Special Voters List”. In it is says “The special voters list shall be in such form as the Minister may direct.” A government minister could, at the stroke of a pen, without consulting Dail Eireann (parliament) include Irish emigrants in the special voters list. Why hasn’t this been done?

• countryboy606 | Feb 17, 2011, 03:15 PM EST

  If Fianna Fail had their way nobody would have a vote... They deliberately wouldnt hold the 4 by-elections here last year, just to hold on 2 power... This is the island of saints and robbers nowadays.. The things that are happening to ordinary decent people here on a daily basis are just sickening... eg.. Dublin City Council, [D.C.C] and Ballymun Regeneration Limited [B.R.L], in the cold icy conditins [january 2010took it upon themselves to turn off the heat on a young mother [rachel peavoy] and 2 children.. Despite representations from a local priest, and local politicans, B.R.L wouldnt listen.. This young mother of 30yrs died in her flat from hyperthermia... But as usual we wont have any accountability... On a different issue a senior B.R.L oficial told residents who had real concerns, "Its my job and I will do what i like" Theese are the sort of "bullyboy tactics" we are subjected to in this country now... If this happened anywhere else in the world,, our government would be the first to condemn such conduct.... Thoose of our children who got out of this sad sick country dont realise how lucky they were... As a parent of 4 children it pains me to make theese comments... But i am ashamed to be irish in this so called modern ireland...........

• kateomprint | Feb 16, 2011, 05:12 PM EST

  Do any of you realise how much effort you have to put to get your name on the Register of Electors in Ireland numerous phone calls, meeting with your local T.D. to get the forms in on time, can you just imagine the shite they would make of trying to get the emigrants to vote.

• Watchman | Feb 01, 2011, 12:42 PM EST

  May I make a suggestion? This correspondence is a disgrace. I opted out of it months ago and haven't regretted it since. There are three or four of you who should follow my example.

• sirpeter | Jan 30, 2011, 07:52 PM EST

  Maginty's Goat..Well I go easy on women because i know they have to make supper and i don't want to upset you..I'd hate to spoil a guys chances later on. Are you sure you could take all I spout *wink..There was loads of wisdom in what i posted...Look at all who agreed with me!! All fundamentally saying the same thing..Here is the list of the wise: actor47 ..borefield..FastEddy the rant..biggles008..jdi2269..antoman...Those who disagree.. GeorgeDillon and Dublinass and they are the Village idiot's..Run along back to the kitchen now and know your place. When you can post like this woman AoifeNicSeáin...Then I'll take you serious. Don't forget to put the beer in the cooler.

• mamaginnty | Jan 30, 2011, 12:45 PM EST

  S.Peter Oh do not bother to go easy on me because I am a woman, I can take all you spout, you are so so full of it...." There was a certain amount of wisdom to my first post" Who said...you said.

• sirpeter | Jan 30, 2011, 11:21 AM EST

  Maginty's Goat,..What's wrong with crap?..I could calls what your post sh*t.But I think you are a woman,so i go easy. I like using profanities...You have to admit...I use them so well..See you made a mistake at having a good laugh at my post and not posting your own opinion...Up to that point my profanities were not directed at you.I reserve them for the few special consistence offenders. .Hmmm..Your not one of those who laugh at others and then get all indignant when they tell you go fu*k yourself are you? With me you should have know what to expect. There was a certain element of wisdom to my first post on this topic and it was not to be laughed at..well you can if you want,but be ready to do battle. I live in Ireland and the article is just stupid,so i get my profanities box ready.

• derrymarch | Jan 28, 2011, 08:48 AM EST

  A great article on a burning issue! Ireland would sink beneath the sea if it's emigrants returned! We pay our taxes to the EU, ergo to Ireland and no taxation without representation! Derry O'Sullivan Paris

• maloney | Jan 27, 2011, 02:28 PM EST

  And a very fine job he does of it I might add. LOL

• mamaginnty | Jan 27, 2011, 10:31 AM EST

  S.PETER you mentioned my name in another blog trying to make fun of what I say, also mentioned the word ...crap. Take a long hard look in the mirror, all you do in the blogs is spout profanities.

• sirpeter | Jan 27, 2011, 12:16 AM EST

  Antoman..You know Georgybolix is a bit..you know..a bit special..as long as he never agrees with ya..that's the main thing if you want to know your sanity is intact. ;))

• mamaginnty | Jan 26, 2011, 01:07 PM EST

  Sydsnots, the people in N.Ireland can vote for MPs in the U.K because at the moment N.Ireland belongs to the U.K

• antoman | Jan 26, 2011, 05:22 AM EST

  I want to point out that Sirpeter and I are two seperate individuals.Georgedillon aka Woundedknee are are two accounts by the same individual.Also take into account his use of "I have a friend in Ireland" or "I read about Ireland" or "when I was in Ireland" or "I know a a US citizen living in Ireland".Clearly he's fu*ked in the head and should be taken with a mountain of salt,right after a bottle of tequila.That is all.

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 26, 2011, 01:47 AM EST

  actor47: You think that only tax-payers should get to vote? Wow, that is the most reactionary, nineteenth century opinion I've come across in a long time. Next you'll want to take votes off women! And poor people...

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 26, 2011, 01:46 AM EST

  mamaginnty: Do you mean sirpeter's imaginary "friend" antoman? You're right, they usually post around the same time. Wonder why that would be.... Anyway, to get serious about the topic, ballyhip wonders how to stop Irish citizens who don't have much connection to Ireland from voting. Well, first of all I would say such an Irish citizen is unlikely to want to vote--what does he care between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael etc? Second I would point out that this is an issue for the hundred or so countries which organize voting for their citizens abroad. They don't seem to think it's a big problem! That includes the US--there are US citizens throughout the world who have little connection with the US. I know a US citizen who lives in Ireland who is a citizen from his American father. He has absolutely no desire to vote in US elections. I saw a figure a while back for the number of Irish passports calculated to be held by people living outside Ireland. The number was 400,000, if my memory is accurate. That's easily managed, if Ireland was a democracy.

• sirpeter | Jan 25, 2011, 07:03 PM EST

  Glad you enjoyed yourself Maginty's Goat,but unless you post your own opinion so, we can have a laugh,your post ain't worth a crap.

• mamaginnty | Jan 25, 2011, 05:14 PM EST

  Read through all the comments and had a good laugh, I see SIRPETER is here also, pity his "friend" is'nt here, I would have laughed even louder. The only comment I can agree with is from ACTOR47.

• ballyhip | Jan 25, 2011, 04:42 PM EST

  Who said Euros couldn't vote in national elections when resident in another country? Italian citizens were allowed to vote in their last general election. As for how voting would play out, that is another question. Even after the tightening of citizenship in 1985, there are many walking around with an Irish passport who never set foot in the country. As a first generation American, Irish law considered me as "Irish" at birth even w/o a passport.

• actor47 | Jan 25, 2011, 04:29 PM EST

  I think it's nonsense to be advocating for emigrants to be allowed to vote. No taxation without representation works both ways. We pay taxes in the US and should therefore only be entitled to vote here in the US as to how those tax dollars should be spent. I can see some argument for those living abroad who do pay taxes in some form or other to the Irish State being allowed to vote but there would have to be very strict guidelines. I would be interested to know if any other democracy allows for this.

• borefield | Jan 25, 2011, 04:13 PM EST

  Are you kidding me?, you left Ireland, a little twinge in your heart tells you you would like to return SOME DAY, but you want your voting rights to be kept intact. Get real, if you miss voting so much becaome a citizen in your new country and yes, you will be allowed to vote. Do you have enough respect for your new country to become a citizen, or are you just here for the money while you wait for Ireland to recover?. On second thoughts, I really think you should return NOW.

• sirpeter | Jan 25, 2011, 03:33 PM EST

  Georgy..I couldn't give a fiddlers fu*ck what they do where you live, or anywhere else for that matter..If you think we are doing wrong...Then I know for sure it's right,and i'm not antoman,only dipsh*t's like you,use two user names

• geordya | Jan 25, 2011, 01:33 PM EST

  It isnt the first time that the Irish government has dumped its people.How about 1969 in the North when they told told the fox(Ie the Brits) to protect the chickens(ie.their Irish citizens in the North)

• FastEddy | Jan 25, 2011, 01:31 PM EST

  Typical socialist shiite disturber ... trying one size fits all arguments for letting terrorists wannabes, transient religious nutcakes, double dipping welfare sluts, outright criminals on the dodge ... Prejudiced? Yes, of course, when turd world scum is allowed to drag their inescapable problems and liberal whines into and out of your streets and polls as the wind blows. ... Jobs? Who's got them where? Rights? Who's despoiling yours because they can? Safety and privacy? What, me worry? ... Whether leaving for good or just vacationing where the grass is dollar greener, the dilution of your vote in your local elections should remain your last and only hope of maintaining some semblance of control over the local taxsuckers, so bye, bye or else stick around, make a stand and stick with it.

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 25, 2011, 12:28 PM EST

  Some of these posters are totally ignorant. Here where I live, you'll periodically notice in the newspapers notices from Embassies and Consulates of places like Colombia and Ecuador, telling their citizens the arrangements for voting in their national elections. Thousands of these folks vote at their consulates in Atlanta GA, for example. These are countries that the fool sirpeter aka antoman would think are Third World countries. I have news for this goof--these countries are far more democratic than Ireland!! And of course we in the US get to vote pretty much regardless of what part of the world we happen to be on election day. The problem with empty-heads like sirpeter aka antoman is that he thinks of people as worker bees in an economy, not as free members of a nation. He wants unlimited immigration to Ireland of Indians, Pakis, Ssri Lankans, Chinese, Polish, Bulgars, Africans etc. etc. He'll be quick enough to demand the vote in Ireland for these foreigners, but he hates the Irish people who have had to emigrate! And of course, he's totally uninformed and close-minded, since I would say that at least 100 nations organize voting for their citizens abroad. You're a bigoted fool, sir peter aka antoman!

• DonnyHL | Jan 25, 2011, 12:27 PM EST

  Word up. I vote that this article is da bomb.

• biggles008 | Jan 25, 2011, 12:17 PM EST

  You vote in the country where you live , not from the country where the voting won't effect you.

• sirpeter | Jan 25, 2011, 12:13 PM EST

  Dublinass..I know!! They let you post your shite on here with impunity too.How many emigrants hold Irish citizenship and passports you dozy twat.Why let them vote from the comfort of far-away lands when they don't pay Irish taxes and bare the consequences of that vote,ya Dublin thicko. As a matter of fact Sinn Fein would do very well if they allowed emigrants to vote considering it's mostly young working class people who are forced to leave.Other EU members/foreigner's..Except the British who can.. cannot vote in General Elections.So why post that they can? Are you mental or something?

• jdi2269 | Jan 25, 2011, 11:35 AM EST

  DUBLINJAS WOULD LOVE IT IN CHICAGO!

• jdi2269 | Jan 25, 2011, 11:34 AM EST

  WHAT A TERRIBLE STORY! VOTE WHERE YOU LIVE! I GUESS MOLLY THINKS ILLEGAL ALIENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE!

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 25, 2011, 11:27 AM EST

  Dublinjas: I wouldn't use the words you use, but I can sympathize with why you did. It's not easy to read the stream of slime and garbage that flows out of sir peter aka antoman. This guy tells us he's a Sinn Fein supporter. This is a party that as you point out, kisses the ass of every foreign migrant who lands at Dublin Airport. Gerry Adams is on record as saying that it doesn't matter if your family has been in Ireland six months or six hundred years, you're all Irish. It's the same conspiracy of clowns who a few years back were supporting the right to Irish citizenship of African and Asian women who landed pregnant at Dublin Airport, located a taxi and shouted at the driver "Get me to the nearest Maternity Hospital!" In fact when I was in Ireland on one opccasion a few years back, one of the Sinn Fein TDs for Dublin, Aengus Something or Other, was leading a picket demanding that all illegal aliens be permitted to stay and work in Ireland. These people are utter cooks, just like their rep here, sir peter aka antoman. They're the enemy of Irish workers who want to stay in their homeland and bring up their families in a country that is still at least recognizably Irish.

• cillowen | Jan 25, 2011, 11:18 AM EST

  emigrants should not waste their time with an oligarchic playground in which the con thriumps.. Their popish queen is coming to excite the natives.

• antoman | Jan 25, 2011, 11:02 AM EST

  Give emigrants the right to vote and they'll be back on the next plane after the election.How about stopping home and making a difference here by voting.No..lets leave and vote from abroad.That way depending on the result we can either choose to stay or return to Ireland.Us poor peasants left behind need the votes of those who fled..right right.

• Dublinjas | Jan 25, 2011, 10:10 AM EST

  There are some right fcuking arrogant thicks who get to post their shite on here with impunity and scant regard for the common rights of the Irish people at home or abroad,Typical Shinners. Any oul fcuking foreigner can wander into the country and he will be courted and begged to exercise his democratic European Right by voting whether he was entitled or not, But let Paddy get five miles off shore and he all of a sudden becomes a total fcuking Memory. Of course Irish people who keep in touch with home and do not renounce their Citizenship, and keep up their Irish Passports for example, Should be entitled to vote in any and all Elections in Ireland.

• sirpeter | Jan 25, 2011, 09:45 AM EST

  If an emigrant leaves Ireland,you forfeit the right to vote in elections..That's the law.By leaving you are abandoning those who refuse to be forced out of Ireland and you are weakening their voice and power to make changes, so that their children in turn won't be forced to leave. If those 1,000 people that are leaving Ireland each week stayed and marched in protest against the government.They would be forced into doing what they are payed to do...Therefore those who leave help maintain the status quo of forced emigration. The should stay at home and use their vote and protest to make changes. This article is just pie in the sky..Irish emigrant's are never going to get to vote in this country..not in a million years.

• LoyalCitizen | Jan 25, 2011, 07:35 AM EST

  Irish Politicians have been using opinions to hide how they falsified the Irish voting system for nearly 15 years now. It does not matter who votes.

• sydsnots | Jan 25, 2011, 07:13 AM EST

  People from nothern Ireland can elect mp's in UK elections, Irish people living abroad cannot elect TD'S.One of the few nations on the planet that denies emigrants a vote.Ireland, the bankrupt failed state.