The Government is to support Fianna Fáil legislation to allow islands vote on the same day as the rest of the country.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Regional, Rural, Gaeltacht & Island Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív proposed the legislation during private members' time in the Dáil this evening.
Traditionally islands vote a day or two earlier than the mainland due to the risk of poor weather.
Mr Ó Cuív said voting now normally takes place on Fridays, allowing most people on the mainland to vote after work.
However, he said most islanders would have to return home on Thursdays in order to vote and this can affect turnout on the islands.
"To make it more difficult for them to vote is wrong," Mr Ó Cuív told the House.
The Dáil was told that transport links made the requirement to vote earlier unnecessary.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney told the House that the Government was supporting the bill.
He said this was about recognising that time had moved on in terms of the islands.
He said if the core issue was making sure islands could vote on the same day as everyone, he was with Mr Ó Cuív on that.
However, he added that legislation would have to allow for exceptional circumstances such as a storm.
Mr Ó Cuív told the house he hoped the legislation would be in place by early next year.
The Galway West TD added that while he was keen for an election, he hoped one wouldn't happen before such legislation was in place.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty has welcomed the Govt's support for the legislation, saying it was a simple thing that should have been fixed a long time ago.
Mr Doherty's fellow Donegal TD Thomas Pringle also said he wanted to see the islands voting alongside everyone else.
Mr Pringle also highlighted the unique situation facing fishermen, who he said should be allowed cast their vote in a garda station prior to an election.
