§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has received any formal communications from the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, following the latter's statement during his recent visit to London, that his Government would consider extending to British citizens living in the Irish Republic the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
§ Sir Ian GilmourNo. I have, however, noted the speech made by the Taoiseach in the Dail on 29 May in which he said
As an initial contribution to a better understanding [between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland] we have, as the House knows, volunteered to bring forward proposals whereby British citizens resident in Ireland will be entitled to vote in our national elections just as Irish people residing in Britain can do.