Emigrants want Ryanair to reduce flights for returning to vote

Campaign members from “Get the Boat 2 Vote” have written a letter to Ryanair’s Head of Communications Robin Kiely asking if the company would offer discounted flights for emigrants wanting to return to Ireland so that they can vote in the referendum regarding marriage equality on May 22.

As Ireland does not have a postal vote facilities, and due to the fact that Irish citizens that live abroad are eligible to vote in referenda and elections within 18 months of leaving under the 1963 Electoral Act, this campaign is trying to encourage Irish emigrants who are vote-eligible to return home to see the passing of the referendum.

Joey Kavanagh, the founder of Get The Boat 2 Vote, said that they launched the campaign in order to get Irish emigrants back to Ireland to vote yes for equality during the referendum which will be held on the 22nd May. He added that flying home is one of the only options for many Irish emigrants wishing to vote therefore they are approaching Ryanair to help these people exercise their voting rights.

To date, more than 500 people have signed up to the campaign, mainly people from mainland Europe but also some from Canada, the US and even as far as Australia.

As most emigrants from Ireland are in their twenties, this is seen as an important step for equality in Ireland as the youth vote is considered to be an important factor in obtaining the ‘yes’ outcome.