Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I listen to everybody's point of view here, without interruption, and I would like the same courtesy afforded to me.

Regarding the proposal before us, what Senator Gavan and some of his colleagues said is true. It is part of Fianna Fáil policy and it was in our manifesto for the last general election. That is correct and nobody has denied it. I am in favour of affording the opportunity to vote to 16 and 17 year olds, but we should not treat them as second-class citizens. If we do not afford them full voting rights and extend it to general elections as well----