One thing we can all agree upon about the government’s proposal to let every Irish passport holder abroad vote in presidential elections is that it has high entertainment potential. It is, in one sense, an opportunity for pure divilment on a literally global scale.

Will the candidates campaign out in Chicago or Christchurch? Who will pay for all that? Should only millionaires run? Or maybe the state should lend the government jet for all the candidates to visit key diaspora constituencies together.

Indeed, there’s a whole season of reality TV in that alone. “Day seven on the campaign plane; today’s task for the candidates is to speak to a crowd in Boston without kicking off a chorus of ‘Ooh Ah Up The ’Ra!’”

Will Michael