Voting by Irish citizens abroad in presidential elections is likely to be treated as a pilot scheme measured on voter turnout and the ability of Irish embassies to reach out to Irish citizens, the Irish Echo has learned.

The newly formed government has committed to holding a constitutional convention to examine, among other issues, giving citizens the right to vote at Irish embassies in presidential elections.

In an interview with the Echo, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said votes by citizens in presidential elections could be judged on “the ability of embassies around the world to reach out to the numbers of Irish citizens there and to see what the take up would be.”

The minister added: “You would have to examine it after it happened.”

She said the issue of emigrant voting is in a developmental phase. The consitutional convention would see a more detailed debate of this, she said.

Asked why the government had differentiated between Dáil and presidential elections, she said the latter was seen as a good place to start.

Ms Fitzgerald said there were complexities involved with enfranchising Irish citizens overseas.

“I don’t think it’s simple. It’s very easy to have the phrase ‘votes for emigrants’ and I completely empathise with what’s behind it and the emotional and practical connection that people want to have, but I think to move to implementing something around it … we would have to tease it out.”

Minister Fitzgerald told the Irish Echo that campaigning for votes for Irish citizens abroad was a sign people cared about their native country but stressed the need for better scrutiny around the issue.

“It’s hard not to feel an empathy with it. It’s a sign that people are committed to the country and want to be committed and that’s really important,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“Obviously, we have had this campaign over long periods. What I think has been missing is a rigorous analysis of what it actually means and how you would implement it.”

Before last month’s general election, BallotBox.ie, set up by Irish emigrants in Canada, conducted an opinion poll of more than 6,000 Irish citizens abroad. The results were closely aligned to the eventual election outcome.

Australia and New Zealand allow their citizens abroad to vote. Ireland would join these two countries, and Italy, France, the US, Britain, the Philippines and Mexico, if it were to introduce such measures.

Countries that, like Ireland, do not allow their citizens abroad to vote include India, Hungary, South Africa, Zimbabwe and El Salvador.

By Luke O’Neill