Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I assure the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, that a 62 year old voter is as welcome to vote for Sinn Féin as any other.

I offer seriously the proposition, with little opportunity to develop these arguments. Surely we should engage with all our second level institutions and other schools and colleges throughout the country. That is a way of ensuring registration of young voters — we are talking about people surplus to the number that is out there in each constituency. I recognise, in some of the city quarters described, that that could happen. So-called "flatland" is a very movable area. It is not the reality in the greater number of rural constituencies.

The real issue in the greater number of rural constituencies, and equally applicable in city and urban centres, is that many young people are not registered. It would be an important element in any exercise undertaken that there would be direct engagement at second level education not only with those who are immediately coming on board in advance of the next election, but as part of CSPE, to encourage and inform young people of the importance of being on the register. That would take place from an outlook of facilitation. That is what is required.

I want to see everyone legally entitled to vote. Is the Taoiseach equally as keen to see everyone on the register who is legally entitled to be there? I look forward to the result in Dublin Central.

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