Sir, - I am a European national, resident in Ireland for over twenty-five years. In that time my wife and I have reared four children to adulthood. They of course have Irish citizenship and enjoy full voting rights, but not their parents!
I have seen several referenda come and go without being able to participate and it is becoming increasingly frustrating. When a person dedicates his or her whole life with all that entails to a new country, surely they should be entitled to the basic right of helping decide that country's future. There could be a minimum length of full residency, say five or ten years as a prerequisite.
Perhaps we should have a referendum to decide the matter. - Yours etc., Malcolm Bray,
Moyglass, Loughrea, Co Galway.