Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Does the Minister of State remember that old saying from school? Praise the young and they will flourish. Cherish and enfranchise the young, enable, empower and trust them. These are all very modest political requirements for the House. That Seanad Éireann would, on receipt of a carefully considered Bill which has been the subject of consultation, as brought forward by Senators Warfield and Ruane, send it to an obscure, opaque committee somewhere, having seen it kicked to touch at an earlier stage, insults the processes of the House. This is the Seanad and this is the place to table and enact laws. It is also a great slight on those who have worked to put the Bill together and proposed it here this afternoon.

At the earlier debate on the Bill, I noted that a pattern was emerging in the House. I reflected on my remarks at that debate before coming to the House today. It should be clear to a blind man or woman on a galloping horse that it has gone beyond a pattern to become a very clear, overt political stance on the part of Fianna Fáil to oppose any legislation Sinn Féin brings to the House. Sin é. That is it. It does not matter if the legislation reflects that party's own policy or if it is completely in unison with its stated aims. It does not matter if giving 16 year olds the vote is the right thing to do. Fianna Fáil is to oppose it. It is negative, nasty and base politics. So much for new politics. It cannot be denied any longer that this is the stated position.