Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Government is being urged to change the law to allow Galway’s island voters to have their say at the same time as everyone else.
Deputy Eamon O’ Cuiv says polls are held on a Friday to allow voters to return home from other areas nationwide and maximise numbers at polling stations.
However, he says a significant number of Islanders travel to the mainland for work or education during the week – and they currently have to sacrifice a full day to return home to have their say a day earlier than mainland voters.
He says that modern boat and air services to the islands of Inis Mean, Inis Mor, Inis Oirr and Inis Bofin mean there’s no valid reason why Islanders can’t have their say at the same time as everyone else.
The Fianna Fail Deputy took the issue up in the Dail this week with Minister for Rural Affairs Ann Phelan, urging her to grant equality to islanders on the matter.
He drew comparisons to islands off the coast of Cork, whose residents already cast their votes on the same day as mainland voters.
Speaking in response, Minister Ann Phelan gave no assurances to Deputy O’ Cuiv, but she indicated she was very open to the idea.