4th March 2003

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O Caoláin welcomes historic Belfast vote and calls on Irish Government to take ``long overdue action'' on northern representation

Speaking in the Dáil today Sinn Fein group leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin today welcomed Belfast City Councils decision supporting Sinn Fein's call for Irish citizens living in the Six Counties to be afforded the right to vote in Presidential elections.

Raising the issue through Standing Order 31 the TD for Cavan / Monaghan described the news as ``a welcome and historic decision last night of Belfast City Council, the second largest democratically elected local authority in Ireland, to support voting rights for Irish citizens in the Six Counties.''

He went on to say there was a ``need for the Irish government to take long overdue action to provide for Six-County representation in the Oireachtas, a measure signalled five years ago at the time of the Good Friday Agreement but continuously delayed by the Government since then.'' ENDS

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