Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will first speak briefly to Senator Moynihan's amendments, which I support. I have participated in both Seanad and European Parliament elections. Sometimes the rules seem to be made up almost each time regarding how to approach the issues of broadcast time and so forth, so the concept of best standards in that is a very good idea.

The Minister of State will also be aware that we strongly support the proposals for the lowering of the voting age. My colleague and others, along with the legislation sponsored by Senator Warfield, have pressed in the past for the vote for 16-year-olds in European and local elections. I strongly believe that is the direction we need to take, so these are useful and important proposals.

Our amendments are similar. They set forward matters for the research agenda. These are not academic pieces of research but matters that need early consideration and scrutiny. Amendment No. 28 is a matter that has been identified previously by the women's caucus in the Oireachtas as an issue of concern across the board for members of all parties. It is gender quotas in local elections. This had been identified as one of the key issues that has to be addressed to ensure we have women engaging in politics. Indeed, these are gender quotas so in the future they apply to both genders, but at present they are specifically addressing the fact that we have inadequate representation and participation of women in local elections. The idea of gender quotas is something that has been called for by local authority representatives and councillors from all parties in the past. It was an issue that was identified as a concern and which Members of the Oireachtas have echoed and supported. It absolutely should be on the agenda early in the lifetime of the commission so that, ideally, we would be looking at these gender quotas being in place for the next local elections. We know that quotas have made and can make a difference. This should be an issue that would expedited as an early item for the commission to examine. That is why amendment No. 28 is important.

Amendment No. 29 looks at the wider question of participation by groups. It is not simply that one has the right to vote. It is for the general public good that we would have all persons participating fully in democracy. Decisions where more people are involved are better decisions. They lead to better outcomes, better social cohesion and to greater ownership of our political decision-making. That is why it refers to participation in elections by women, which I have spoken about, and people with a disability. We have highlighted those who are LGBTI, and there may be issues regarding names and registers in that regard. There are also persons who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, Travellers and other ethnic minorities, and some of those issues have been mentioned, as well as persons who are younger, really proactive members to encourage and support participation by those under the age of 25 years, and measures to actively support participation by persons who are serving custodial sentences, so they are aware of and able to access their rights in terms of electoral participation.

This is not an exclusionary list. It is putting the point that participation in elections should be a goal of the commission. It is not simply something we regulate as a process but a goal of participation, and these are just some of the areas we have suggested for particular regard. They certainly do not leave out other areas where participation may need to be encouraged.

I hope the Minister of State will consider taking amendments Nos. 28 and 29 on board. I believe there is strong support for amendment No. 28 in particular. It is an issue that has arisen repeatedly in respect of local elections and equitable representation and participation in those elections. Many Members in different parties have faced real obstacles in that regard and this is a chance for progress.