Dr. Susan Walsh joined the panel for the ‘Citizenship, Emigrants and Voting Rights Post-Brexit – Emigrant Voices’ webinar on Monday, 1st March 2021.
Organized by VotingRights.ie and the UCD Clinton Institute, in association with EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and VICA (Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad) the digital event featured a number of prominent Irish politicians and academics, as well as activists and members of the diaspora taking part from around the world.
The conference was conducted at a crucial time for Irish citizens at home and abroad, with the reality of Brexit biting, and the global pandemic ongoing. The discussions responded to the Irish government’s diaspora strategy, and the commitment to a referendum extending the franchise in presidential elections to all Irish citizens.
The event was attended by Minister for the Diaspora Colm Brophy and Minister for Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, and feature a contribution from Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney. It included representatives from major political parties across the island of Ireland, including Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, SDLP, the Greens, Alliance, and independent unionists.
Ben Kelly Vice Chair of VICA moderated ‘Voices of Emigrants’, the constitutional and legal issues around citizenship and electoral reform.