Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

These improvements, which were assisted by a major awareness campaign last autumn, will result in many more people being able to exercise their right at the coming election.

The Minister has already set out the important work of the task force for active citizenship which reported in March and the arrangements for implementation of the recommendations. No matter who forms the next Government, the challenge of engaging our citizens more fully in the democratic process through awareness, education and other measures is a continuing one and must be high on the agenda. In the meantime, we must all work to encourage people to consider the important issues which will be put before them in the coming election, to examine the alternatives available and to get them out on polling day.

I already referred to the notion that this would be marvellous for students and that it would increase the overall vote. One will find that by the time polling day comes, most third level colleges will be on holidays and the students will be gone.

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