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

I thank everyone who contributed. I do not want the young people either in the Public Gallery or watching online to be despondent from this debate; quite the opposite. As Deputy Nash said, this will progress in a positive way.

On timing, I will task the commission to look at this piece of work very early on so that we can prepare for our next electoral event, which will be the 2024 local and European elections and can make an informed decision on it. It is very important that we collate all the research. In thejournal.iearticle this morning, Deputy Pringle may have suggested that perhaps the bigger parties might be disadvantaged by reducing the voting age. That is not always the case.

Reducing the voting age will transform party manifestoes and the candidates they put forward, and transform the level and types of debate that take place in the Dáil and Seanad Chambers and in council chambers, because it will be much more geared towards young people. I have no doubt it is only going to be a positive thing. I am absolutely supportive personally of reducing the voting age but it is critical that we make an informed decision on it. That is why the Government is of the view that the commission is the best place to do that.

I am somewhat disappointed there were not more contributions from Members and I would have expected that more Members would have contributed. However, we have had a good debate. Again, I acknowledge the letter from Erica which Deputy Joan Collins read out. I am giving a commitment that we will be tasking the commission to look at this very early on after its establishment and it is something we want to see happen. That deals with the contributions from Members.

I acknowledge that FridaysForFuture has been involved with Comhairle na nÓg for many years. I thank the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Irish Second-Level Students Union for their ongoing engagement on this issue, which is important. We see young people being so active in this space. It is encouraging and inspiring to see young people participating in our democratic structures, both at Comhairle na nÓg level and in local decision-making, and they are making a huge impact, as we saw with the reduction in the public transport fares, which was led by Comhairle na nÓg. They are having a huge impact in their involvement with us in the Legislature and I thank them for that.

The debate has presented a useful opportunity to discuss the age at which persons would be entitled to vote in elections and referendums in Ireland and provided much to consider as we move forward on this issue. As Deputies are aware, this Bill proposes to amend the Constitution in order to lower the age at which persons would be entitled to vote in Dáil Éireann elections from 18 years of age to 16 years. This amendment to reduce the voting age in Dáil elections would also have a consequential effect of reducing the voting age at presidential and local elections, as well as at referendums. The right to vote at these elections is linked, under the Constitution, to the right to vote at elections to Dáil Éireann. An amendment to the Constitution is not something to be taken lightly. It is a fundamental change to the legal framework of our State. Any Bill which proposes to amend the Constitution, such as this one, must be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and a referendum must be held.

In my contribution earlier, I outlined three significant reasons as to why the Government is seeking the Second Reading of this Bill to be deferred until 30 June 2023. In summary, these reasons are as follows. First, there is currently an extensive electoral reform programme, which implements key electoral reform priorities set out in the programme for Government, including the establishment of an electoral commission, being brought forward by way of the Electoral Reform Bill 2022. This Bill completed Report Stage in the Dáil last week and Second Stage in the Seanad on Tuesday. Second, there is an existing commitment in the programme for Government to examine the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age in order to draw conclusions. Once it is established, the commission will be well placed to undertake such an examination. Finally, it is important to ensure consistency across all electoral codes. This Bill only lowers the voting age to 16 at Dáil elections and consequentially at presidential and local elections, as well as referendums, but it does not lower the voting age for European and university elections for the Seanad. Any proposal to lower the voting age should include all elections and referendums.

As we are aware, there is much to consider in progressing the proposal to lower the voting age. Learning from other countries should be considered. Experience elsewhere has shown that it is not enough to reduce the voting age and expect that positive benefits will flow. To have the desired effect of promoting participation and democratic engagement, legislative change must be supported through education. That is the message coming from experience in Austria and more recently with the referendum in Scotland.

It is also worth noting that voting at age 16 is not the norm around the world. Currently, only two EU countries - Austria and Malta - and five Central and South American countries - Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua - provide for voting at age 16 in national elections, although Norway, Switzerland and Germany do provide for voting at age 16 in some sub-national elections. We are also aware that Scotland, the Welsh National Assembly, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have reduced the voting age for certain elections in recent times. The impact of these reforms merits further examination to see what lessons can be learned and may be hugely informative to any proposals going forward.

I again thank all Deputies for their contributions.

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