EU migrants living in Ireland to be allowed to vote

Ireland is to allow Poles, Czechs, Slovakians and tens of thousands of other EU migrant workers to vote in national elections, in a move that could radically transform the political landscape, according to the minister in charge of integrating the country's half a million immigrants.

Ireland has an overall population of about 4.5 million, with non-Irish nationals, from the EU as well as China and Africa, making up 12% of Ireland's population.

Conor Lenihan, the minister for integration, said that in return for full voting rights the migrants would have to prove an ability to speak English before taking up permanent resident status.

To date EU migrant workers have not had the right to vote in Irish general or local elections. All of the EU migrants in the republic, including those taking up permanent residence or citizenship and those who do not, will have the right to vote under Lenihan's plans.

It also means that for the EU immigrants, and for a limited number of migrants from outside Europe, there will be an English language test to pass before getting permanent residency or an Irish passport.