Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I and my party will be supporting this legislation.

I, too, wish to express my disappointment that we will not be having a referendum to reducing the voting age to 16 but I acknowledge that in the other House the Government accepted legislation that my party put forward on the Friday sitting.

The lowering of the age for presidential candidates would serve to empower young people. It would also serve to kick-start the promotion and awareness of and participation in politics among young people in terms of the issues affecting them. The earlier we engage young people in democracy and politics, the greater the chance that we will promote and sustain a lifelong interest in and commitment to voting and participating in the democratic process.

Unlike previous generations, modern young people are much more informed, for example, by civic, social and political education courses in schools. Today, young people have a wide range of access to media and social media networks, for example, Twitter and Facebook, and many other media that I myself do not fully understand even though I am quite young. Young people are able to get this information, engage and debate on political issues in their own way through these fora.

At this point, I would highlight an article that was in The Irish Timeslast week, entitled "Zayn Malik's move points us in one direction on presidential age referendum". There are not many journalists who could tie in the exit of a member of one of the most popular boy bands currently with politics but, alas, it was done. While Zayn did leave One Direction, this article went completely down the wrong direction. When, for example, on the same day a certain television presenter was sacked from his job for misconduct in attacking his producer, are we able to tie that into some other referendum on how perhaps we should vote? The article stated:

In short, the proper place for a 21-year-old is not in Áras an Uachtaráin. It's not even in the Dáil, Seanad or Cabinet.

No, the proper place for a 21-year-old is in a nightclub; or a night-train to Mongolia with nothing much to do in the morning; or a job in which mistakes can be made without major incident; or a college library; or in a band; or even a boy band. Vote No.

This piece is not only highly offensive but condescending and degrading towards all young people in Ireland who are working hard to make a difference. Personally, I find it insulting.

Most Senators and Deputies, including the Minister of State, the Cathaoirleach and myself, probably entered politics young. Most of us became interested at a young age, probably in our mid-to-late teens. I have been working in the Houses of the Oireachtas since I was 20. I was elected to this House at the age of 22. If I have electoral ambitions to be President, after having gone through college and acquiring experience in these Houses, why should my age preclude me? Why should I have to be older if the electorate itself feels I can do a good job? Should it not be the electorate who judges each candidate on his or her merit rather than having a restricted choice only based on age available to it on polling day? Why should I, or any other young person in Ireland, be discriminated against by ageist policies? We would not discriminate against people because of skin colour, religion or sex, and why should we accept discrimination because of age?

The Constitution permits a 21 year old to serve as a Minister and, essentially, exercise more political power on a daily basis than the President. Why should we discriminate against someone below the age of 35 exercising the functions of a President? If a 21 year old can theoretically deliver the budget, I am prepared to trust such a person in the Áras for a number of years.

To go beyond my political party, the current Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, public procurement and international banking, Deputy Simon Harris is 28 and he has been a Member of the Oireachtas since 2011. As we all will be aware, he has been in this House for the passage of a number of important Bills and while I would not agree with him on the content of some of that legislation, no one could deny that he is able and articulate and one of the most intelligent Members in the Houses. Prior to his election to the Dáil, he was elected to Wicklow County Council in 2009 with the highest percentage vote of any county councillor in Ireland. It sounds like a party political broadcast for Deputy Harris, but would anyone question his ability because of his age? Should he have been in nightclubs or out Interrailing instead of putting himself forward for election and getting elected by so many of his peers? Would it be better if the Minister of State was in the out-and-about sections of the newspapers falling out of nightclubs with the glitterati or in these Houses using his experiences, wisdom and knowledge to influence legislation?

I heard a lot of Deputies in the Dáil, and one or two Senators here, stated that while they are supportive of the Bill, they would be unlikely to vote for someone under 35 years of age, and that is fine. I accept that. However, allowing someone younger than that to stand is important and the involvement of more young people in politics would introduce innovative and fresh ideas. My party will be supporting this legislation wholeheartedly.