Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is on the list the Acting Chairperson, Senator Boyhan, read out. That is what I thought it was.

A Bill on fur farming was before this House a couple of months ago. The Government tabled a number of amendments relating to forestry at the end of the debate on it. It is possible within this Bill, and I have tabled a number of amendments on this, as have Senators Ruane and Flynn, to expand the categories of people who vote. Politicians generally get a little protective over their space because we are all political practitioners and we recall and remember elections where this and that happened. When the census results came out last week, people could be seen working out what they meant and the implications for their constituencies. We are a little conservative, however, in our thinking regarding who votes. It is within the power and gift of this Government, and I hope the Minister of State mentions this and that it will not be a year down the line, to use its powers, as it has with other Bills, to introduce last-minute amendments, such as those around the lottery, to allow 16-year-olds to vote. There is no constitutional imperative relating to the local and European elections, which are coming up in three years, that would allow the commission to put in place the mechanisms to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, but we could do so with this legislation. There is no constitutional ban on us doing that now.

I am a little wary of putting this matter to a commission to consider. We all know it is perfect political ploy to send something off to a committee to report on it, where we have a look at that report and then do not do anything about it. I would like to see the Government come back with an amendment on Report Stage including immigrants, emigrants - Irish people voting abroad, and I have other amendments relating to that - and 16-year-olds, as electors, and task a commission with putting in place the logistical arrangements allowing them to vote. I will not speak at length, but I would like to see a commitment to a guarantee from the Government that 16-year-olds will be able to vote in the local and European elections in 2024. There is no reason we cannot do this here, no reason we cannot do it through legislation and no reason we cannot pass a Bill with that provision in effect at this stage.