Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Voting at 16 in local and European elections, if the legislation were passed now, would do two things. It would engage 16 and 17 year olds now. It would also give some statistical data to go on as to the overall engagement of 16 and 17 year olds. The Minister of State did not kick it down the road. He kicked it down the motorway so far I cannot see it any more. Promises of referendums are nothing but promises that blow in the wind. We make promises in here, in manifestoes and in all sorts of things all the time. This is a simple piece of legislation that would offend nobody, but perhaps it is scaring the living daylights out of the traditional political parties who might have to face a young electorate in 2019.