Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a lot of emphasis on the electoral register because that is the empowering point at which one can participate, through one's vote, in democracy. However, we must also consider that we will never have the optimum position, which is that everybody who should be on the electoral register is on it. There are two parts to that, the first of which is trying to get people to register, which has been debated. The second part is that, as Councillor McVitty stated, there will be occasions on which the names of people who have been on the register for 40 or 45 years are removed. There should be accountability for that, as there is in every other area. We are sitting here recounting such stories. There should be a paper trail in terms of the reason someone's name was removed. The county registrar has a role, and people's absence can be notified after deaths and so on, but if a person is looking to vote, some evidence should be provided as to the reason their name was removed. When elected representatives, for example, find out that someone has been removed from the register, it would be worthwhile for them to follow up on that to determine the reason. If there was not a valid reason for removing the person's name, somebody should be held accountable. Otherwise, it will continue to happen. The evidence that might have to be produced to show why a person has been removed from the register could vary. I have encountered cases in which the name of a person who had lived in an area all of his or her life was removed from the register. Somebody should be accountable for that if we are serious about doing our business.

I agree that we should cater for people from European Union countries who live here and may have married here but who will never get to vote in referendums or general elections. Those people are de factocitizens of the country. Alternatively, we could have a simpler process whereby people from EU countries who have lived here for a certain length of time can become citizens. It would not be as expensive to provide for that.

I have not asked any questions but I would make the point that we are not a nanny state. Every time we start moving in this direction we say we will look after this, that and the other area. That is unachievable. I would like to see more of an emphasis on people who want to participate in the democratic process, and that begins at a younger age. We never get a full turnout in elections in terms of the numbers on the register, even allowing for errors. Many people are not interested in voting. I agree with Deputy Coppinger that people vote when they are interested in the outcome and, in fairness, some of the issues are not as exciting as the marriage equality referendum, but it is necessary and it is part of our democracy. It is important that people participate. We should have that conversation. Democracy can be laborious. There is an idea that it is all about those types of conversation, even the conversations we are having now. We might try to glamorise the process on occasion when we are trying to get votes, but we might engender that idea when young people are in secondary school, and not just expect them to register and vote when they become of age. There are young people of 16 who are fit to vote but there are people of 21 who will never want to vote. That is not the issue. It is about instilling in people the idea of citizenship, and part of being Irish and participating in the democratic process is using one's vote and making the best decision possible. We must also engender the idea that my vote is equal to that of the President or the man living down the street.