Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has urged the government to “end the delay” in publishing legislation to allow for a referendum on extending presidential voting rights.

Mary Lou McDonald said: “The government must end the delay, publish this legislation and allow for the necessary discussion and campaign on extending the right to vote for the president of Ireland."

McDonald added: “At a briefing on the issue held in Leinster House on 10th July, Diaspora Minister Ciarán Cannon TD indicated that government would publish the required referendum bill the following week."

McDonald continued: “Minister Cannon’s remarks followed a commitment from the Taoiseach on the floor of the Dáil that the Bill would be published before the summer recess. It is now August and that bill remains unpublished. With a November referendum in the pipeline, it worrying that this has not yet happened."

McDonald ended her statement saying: “This legislation, and its passage through the Oireachtas, is necessary for the referendum to take place. Without it, the necessary campaign, debate and discussion cannot get fully underway. The government must stand by their commitment and publish the referendum Bill without any further delay.”