Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for this important amendment. They are all important but this one is significant. It is important to note there is a commitment. We had this at pre-legislative scrutiny stage as well. I have met with the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, the National Youth Council of Ireland and others on this. We look at the success in other jurisdictions. I agree it should be reduced but that is my personal view. It would benefit our democracy but it is important the commission be tasked with the research function. We give a commitment to that.

This committee will have an important role in deciding the areas of research the commission will examine. We are taking on board views today and will continue to do that. It could enrich our democracy. There are wider challenges around participation in our democracy that may not be related to reducing voter age. That promotion aspect of the commission will be novel and unique in terms of engaging with the reasons our democracy is precious and important. We give a commitment to ensuring from early on that the commission will be tasked with looking at reducing the voting age and the success or otherwise of that in other jurisdictions. The modernisation of the electoral register and the pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds gives a commitment to engaging young people in our electoral system. That is important.

On the point about all residents, we want to achieve from this, in the bigger picture, a change in our council chambers and our Dáil Chamber in terms of people who are representative of those who live here. That has been said across the debates and discourse on this Bill. I give our commitment on that.

I will outline the provisions in Chapter 9 that set out the research, advisory and voter education functions of the commission. Chapter 9 of Part 2 provides for the commission to take on a new policy research and advisory function. As part of its work, the commission will prepare research programmes, conduct research on electoral policy and procedure and provide advice as required to the Minister and Government on electoral issues. It can make recommendations to Government for changes to electoral legislation.The commission will promote public awareness of, and work to increase public participation in, the State’s electoral and democratic processes through education and information programmes. This is an expansion of the work the Referendum Commission carried out as part of its role. The commission may also prepare and publish ex postreports on how electoral events were administered.

These provisions in the Bill will ensure we have, for the first time in our electoral system, a dedicated independent research, advisory and education function. This is an important element of what the Bill seeks to achieve. The commission’s research programmes will be prepared in consultation with this committee annually, so members will have the opportunity to give their input into the commission’s research priorities.

Respecting the electoral commission’s independence from Government, I do not intend to legislate to require it to conduct specific pieces of research. Notwithstanding this, guided by the programme for Government, I intend to request that the commission examine the Scottish experience of lowering the voting age to 16, which could be an important element of informing our consideration of the matter.

It is also worth noting that the matter of extending the franchise to Irish citizens outside of the State is under consideration. In particular, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to hold a referendum on extending the franchise to citizens abroad at presidential elections. A constitutional amendment Bill on this matter has been published and, if it is approved by both Houses, a referendum will follow.

Given the general research and advisory role for the electoral commission set out in the Bill, I do not propose to accept the amendment but, again, I give our commitment. This is an important function. Our next scheduled electoral event will be the local European elections in 2024 so I hope recommendations will be brought forward from that piece of research then. I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for bringing the amendment forward.