Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here today. Having free transport on election day is a no-brainer. It will create the opportunity for some people from very poor communities to get out and vote. That is a no-brainer. Today, however, I will focus on the issue of young people being able to vote. Much of the time, we undermine our young people. We do not value our young people's views and opinions. In my early days, I was a youth worker who was involved with young people in Ballyfermot to bring about equality and opportunities for young children and young people in working-class areas. Young people know the world around them. They know the issues that impact them in their own local communities. They are not in any way foolish when it comes to voting. I, together with Senator Higgins, spoke with two young people earlier today who are on placement. They spoke to me about the importance of young people having a voice and about how they feel very capable of voting. One of the young people said to me that older people sometimes do not have the capacity to vote in the right way. I admired that because we judge our younger people but we ourselves are not always right in how we vote for our society.

I thank Senators Ruane and Warfield for introducing a Bill in this House on lowering the voting age. Two years ago, Deputy Pringle brought forward a Bill about holding a referendum on young people being able to vote. On 30 June last year, I remember we had been in the Dáil Chamber watching the debate on Deputy Pringle's Bill on lowering the voting age. The Minister of State said the issue would go to the commission and that he will come back next year to the young people and to Deputy Pringle. If possible, I would like to know where we are in that regard a year after.

In my opinion, we are kicking this down the road. We keep talking about Seanad reform and about how the Seanad should be more inclusive. If we really and truly want Seanad reform, today is the day. I have been here for three years. I remember one of my first speeches, when I spoke before the Minister of State, in which I was comfortably saying that we need a Seanad that represents all of us. We need a Seanad of diversity and inclusion. This Bill is a step in that direction. It does not provide all the answers, unfortunately, but it is a step. We should be taking each step that our colleagues are working hard to bring forward.

At a European level, young people do have an opportunity to vote. They want all young people in Europe to be able to vote in the European elections at the age of 16. Why can we not do that here in this country? It would be so simple to give young people their voices, to stop disempowering our young people in this country and to empower them. Studies have shown, including a study from Sheffield, that when young people are empowered to vote, they go out in their droves and in bigger numbers to vote. They continue to vote and they are held accountable. In Scotland and Malta, young people are voting at the age of 16. It just works. I have heard my colleagues on the other side of the House speaking about how they want Seanad reform and about how we have Senator Malcolm Byrne's Bill. However, this is a step.

The Minister of State has said he will be opposing the Bill but he should put his money where his mouth is and stop kicking the can down the road. Today is an opportunity to really show our young people that we value them. This Bill will not be passed straight away today. It will need to go to Committee Stage. The Minister of the State can take that one step to leave a better legacy for young people in this country. He can take one step to put this Bill through to Committee Stage. I encourage the Minister of State to do that, if the political will is there. I have seen many good politicians in this House who have gone against things and who have kept true to their own values and principles. I knew the Minister of State before he came to Leinster House as a Minister of State and as a Deputy. I know the value he places on community development work and young people. Today he can stay true to his own values and principles and support this Bill.

I again thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and everybody who over the years have canvassed and campaigned very hard for young people to have a voice in this country. This goes with what is in the Bill regarding students in universities having their voices heard and today is the day to do it.