Constitutional Convention backs emigrant vote for Irish Presidential elections

Constitutional Convention debates emigrant vote.
Majority in favor.

The Constitutional Convention -- a representative sample of Irish citizens and politicians convened to make non-binding recommendations for policymakers -- has backed giving Irish emigrants a vote.

Although the Convention's suggestion have no legislative or governmental authority by themselves, its findings do have to be debated in parliament, and the result may serve as a surprise to the government who may not have been aware that support for the controversial proposal is strong at home as well as in the diaspora.

The issue was the fourth in the series of the eight topical issues that the Convention is set to debate.

78 of the Convention's 100 members balloted in favor of the proposal after two days of debate and discussion at Malahide in North Dublin, with 5 less members saying that they would be happy to extend the right to those resident in Northern Ireland.

Just 38 of the respondents also voted in favor of stipulating a time-limit to how long ex-pats could exercise the right.

Over 120 countries have provisions allowing for their overseas emigrants to vote, but successive governments have proven themselves less than enthusiastic about the possibility of extending the privilege to Irish citizens now resident overseas -- a group which is reckoned to number at least 3 million, although the figure is in constant fluctuation.

The deliberations saw experts present either side's argument before the issue was submitted to vote.

Representing traditional opposition to an emigrant vote, Dr Paul O'Connor argued that emigrants were not sufficiently well informed about Irish current affairs to be able to add a thoughtful and useful voting contribution to important national issues.

That argument was countered by the claim that the global information flow between Ireland and its diaspora -- led by widely-read diaspora websites and newspapers -- alongside freely-available VoIP services such as Skype, made the point irrelevant in today's world.

Others have argued that extending a vote to the diaspora should have been a necessary quid pro quo for the Diaspora's financial backing of tourist initiatives such as The Gathering.

Emigrant organization representatives from around the world, along with a number of Irish embassies, joined the proceedings by video feed, something the Convention's chairperson said added a "powerful insight" into how that group feels.

A number of missions issued circulars to local ex-pats soliciting submissions about their feelings on the topic which were then shortlisted and circulated to those in attendance at the plenary.

Jennie McShannong of Irish in Britain said that the Irish community there wanted to "play a part" and "have a real stake" in the running of the country.

A number of campaign groups and websites are active in lobbying for the vote including the Vote for Irish Citizens campaign, VICA.

Although the Convention's recommendations are not binding, they are reported to government, who can decide, based on the issue and strength of the vote, whether or not to hold a referendum on the issue.

Ireland basks in September heatwave as temperatures reach 75F

Sunny weather returns to Ireland

After one of the sunniest summers on record, Ireland is basking in a late Fall heatwave with temperatures reaching 24C (75F) in parts of the country.

A forecaster with Met Éireann, Ireland's national meteorological service, described the phenomenon as "unusual", with present conditions set to last for the duration of the week.

The autumnal burst is the icing on the cake after one of the sunniest and warmest summers recorded in Ireland with below average rainfall values recorded almost across the country, and up to 20 percent more sunshine than average across the Southern coast, reports Met Eireann.

The spectacular summer happily coincided with The Gathering 2013 with one newspaper dubbing it 'the summer that saved Irish tourism."

Sean Quinn, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's national tourist body, said that the lengthy spell of un-interrupted good weather during the peak holiday season in late July and August had meant that many families had chosen 'staycations' over traditional Mediterranean getaways.

Word of the Irish beach bonanza quickly spread, however, with inbound tourism figures from the traditional key geographies of the UK, US, and the European Union, all remaining extremely buoyant as a results of the good conditions, with over one million visitors from the US alone choosing a holiday on the Emerald Isle.

Tourism remains Ireland's most important indigenous industry and accounts for over 4 percent of Domestic GDP.

A spokesperson for Fáilte Ireland said that the tourism boost meant that the "dark days" of the recession lull were in the past, with the planned growth being spearhead by The Gathering project delivering tangible results.

It wasn't good news for all, however.

National carrier Aer Lingus bore the brunt of the staycation craze, revising its end of year profit guidance downwards from €69m to €60m.

Irish university launches first ever alcohol free dorms

UCC to pilot novel drink-free accommodation

As Irish universities return for the start of a new college term, one school is piloting an unlikely new initiative: alcohol free dorms.

University College Cork (UCC) has become the first university in Ireland to offer such accommodation and says that the move will allow students who want to experience university in a more sober mind-frame the ability to do so.

The university's Health Promotion Officer, Deirdre Griffin, said that the specialist hall would allow students and staff to "take control over and improve their well-being" adding that it developed on UCC's broader selection of specialist need accommodation, which already includes dorms specifically for fluent Irish language speakers, single-sex dorms, as well as one for mature students only.

The college added that the alcohol free dorm, at Victoria Lodge, would appeal to international students whose "religious and cultural backgrounds" might preclude them from drinking alcohol altogether or limit the frequency with which they imbibe.

Final year and postgraduate students have also reportedly expressed a strong interest in the new trial project.

The news gained national and local media coverage and even spawned a #dryapartments hashtag on Twitter. Most blog commentary was positive on the new option.

The healthy new dorms were announced after a 2010 health and well-being survey at the university showed up a "concerning" pattern of binge drinking among both male and female undergraduate students, which found that almost half of the cohort engaged in binge drinking more than once a week.

Almost all students that reported partaking in the frequent binge drinking said that it had led to adverse consequences, with "regretting something said or done", experiencing the "adverse effects" of drinking while at lectures, and missing school altogether among the most frequently reported negative consequences.

Those looking to gain a spot in the drink-free accommodation must provide the university with a detailed personal statement outlining why they specifically wish to live under such arrangements.

Those found to have drunk on the dorms will face penalties "in line with current university disciplinary procedures," according to the college, whose subsidiary, UCC Campus Accommodation, manages most of the non-private college rental market in Cork.

Despite Ireland's heavy drinking culture, the university's accommodation office has reported a "very strong uptake" on the new flats, with another Irish university -- the University of Limerick -- considering introducing the novel form of housing for the 2014 term.

The move follows on from previous efforts to clamp down on problem drinking at the college which included a ban on "mystery tours" -- bus trips with an unknown location --- effected in 2010.

Woman in emergency airlift after jellyfish mauling in Dublin

Jellyfish swarm

A woman diving with her friends in a popular Dublin swimming spot was airlifted by the Dublin Coast Guard after being mauled by a jellyfish, it has been reported.

An inshore lifeboat was also rushed to the scene after the viscous attack.

The rescue missions were deployed at 11am yesterday after two women were reported missing offshore.

When rescued, the woman was suffering from hypothermia and has visible jellyfish stings to her face; the boat crew described her condition as 'serious'.

The unlucky bather was then airlifted to Our Lady of the Lourdes hospital in Drogheda where she underwent further treatment.

Although the identity of the jellyfish isn't known, Ireland does suffer from influxes of poisonous jellyfish during the late summer and early fall months due to to the proximity of the warm North Atlantic Drift.

The EcoJel project, a leading European jellyfish research study based in Haulbowline, Cork

According to its Jellyfish ID Card the compass, barrel, blue, and Lion's Mane jellyfish are all known to inflict stings capable of needing medical attention.

Although not strictly a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man O War, whose sting can be fatal, made its way to Irish beaches last summer, with sighting all over the southern Irish coastline.