Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question of whether we will give them a vote is a project that will start in November. I am in favour of it. The convention discussed it and a recommendation was made. Some party leaders, including Fianna Fáil's leader, believe that the discussion was a waste of time. It was not, as I agree with Senator Ó Clochartaigh that it would encourage more people to vote. Some choose not to vote no matter their age, but 16 year olds nowadays are well informed and are living in their communities. When people become 17 or 18 years of age, they generally leave those communities to attend college or go to work or abroad. They might lose their voting patterns. The sooner people get into the habit of voting, the better for democracy. I am in favour of it, but we cannot deal with that matter as part of this discussion.