This is absolutely appalling.
With many candidates citing equality and fairness as a concern, its shocking to hear that citizens were denied the right to vote because of accessibility issues.
Vice President of Paralympics Ireland and retired athlete, Eimear Breathnach, was amongst a selection of voters who were unable to vote.
Taking to Twitter she said:
So under the constitution all citizens are equal I am not allowed vote as I did not ring ahead to organise wheelchair access #GE16 disgusted
— Eimear Breathnach (@mrseimearb) February 26, 2016
It quickly became apparent that she was not the only one affected, with other twitter users sharing their experiences.
. @mrseimearb nope, nothing in Braille. One of the polling station staff knows precisely for whom I voted. #ge16
— Dónal Fitzpatrick (@fitzpatrickd) February 26, 2016
The reaction was one of outrage. Some senators and councilors responded but ultimately it came down to Eimear’s brother orchestrating an entrance through fire escapes and bins.
@mrseimearb I’m disgusted. I’ll be raising this at the next meeting of DCC & beyond.
— Mannix Flynn (@mannixflynn) February 26, 2016
@curehead @mrseimearb I have no control over this now but I am disgusted but that’s of little use to the woman.
— Senator G Craughwell (@GCraughwell) February 26, 2016
Went and got my big brother to get me into inaccessible polling station via fire exit and bins #equality?? #GE16 pic.twitter.com/DtwsoixbAr
— Eimear Breathnach (@mrseimearb) February 26, 2016
Martin Naughton of the Disability Federation of Ireland, spoke about the lack of accessible polling stations last week.
In The Examiner he stated:
“It is a disgraceful fact that for schooling purposes and voting purposes these buildings do not have access for all,
“I really hope that the returning officers do all they can to ensure everyone can gain access to their polling station, or facilitate people in some other way,
“It is imperative we are all entitled to exercise our franchise. This demonstrated again how many people are excluded from everyday life.”
We have reached out to Eimear to comment more on the situation.
