IRISH residents in Britain will be able to have a say on the country’s EU membership in the upcoming Brexit referendum.
Newly re-elected Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a referendum on the matter by 2017.
Eligibility for voting is expected to be discussed when the EU Referendum Bill is introduced in parliament this week – with sources at No.10 claiming it will follow the same rules as employed in the recent general election.
The legislation is likely to confirm that Irish and Commonwealth citizens who are British residents will be able to vote in the referendum.
For EU nationals this would include those from Malta and Cyprus only, barring an estimated 1.5million people from other European nations currently living in Britain from having a say.
British nationals who have lived overseas for less than 15 years will also be able to vote.
In total, it is expected that around 43.5 million eligible voters will have the option.
The Bill will be introduced in parliament on Thursday, May 28.
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