Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. This is a good debate. We have had it before and I am somewhat surprised by the change in position and the moving of chairs. The people who were for this Bill are particularly against it from time to time.

I want to acknowledge and thank Senator Malcolm Byrne and his team for preparing what is a very simple Bill and one which I support. I have spoken on it before. I took the time this morning to pull out and read all of the transcripts of the debate on the Bill. The issue is very simple. I want to acknowledge the people in the Gallery and thank them for coming to the House.

I have engaged in the past with the National Youth Council of Ireland, Foróige, Youth Work Ireland and the Irish Second-Level Students' Union. They have been in contact with me and I do not believe their position has changed. It is important that we proceed to empower and franchise 16 and 17-year-olds. I was politically active at 16 years of age. The Minister of State will be aware from his green, environmental and political credentials and community engagement that people are active and politicised at a very early age, and that is a good thing and something we need to encourage.

At the very outset I want to acknowledge the press statement released yesterday which flagged the intention to bring in pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds. That is a welcome move, but it does not go far enough. It is an indication of the Government's commitment to at least get people involved. We have seen the statistics. I want to thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for the digest it furnished to Members yesterday. It clearly demonstrates that when we engage people early and at a young age in other jurisdictions, such as Latvia, Belgium and certain states in Germany and Switzerland, people want to continue the right to exercise their franchise.

Why are some politicians afraid to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds, in particular given the limited scope in which the Bill proposes to do so? It is not about a general election; initially, the franchise would be extended only for local and European elections. I hope the Bill will be passed today and I urge colleagues on all sides of the House to support it. It is only a stage in the process. It is important that we send a clear message. We cannot keep talking about something and doing nothing.

I mean no disrespect to Senator Byrne, because I know he is fiercely committed to this, but I hope he has the support of his party members. If he does not have the support of a substantial number of Government Members, it is very difficult to drive legislation forward. The House has a massive majority. It can bring any legislation forward and reject any amendment, as it does on a weekly basis. In a House with such a big majority, Government parties can block and stop but they can also promote and propagate legislation they believe is correct and right.

It is important that we engage with people, tap into youth and explore the diversity of young people in particular. Young people bring to politics new and fresh ideas and different ways of expression. It is important that we tap into that resource. I want to acknowledge the Minister of State's proposal for pre-registration. It is a good and welcome move, but perhaps it does not go far enough.

Every age brings something new to politics, be they young, middle-aged or elderly. We learn from our life experiences at different stages of life when we are exposed to different elements, opportunities and experiences. It is especially relevant for 16 and 17-year-olds. Let us reflect on the fact that 16-year-olds can consent to medical treatment, leave school and enter the workplace or training, be paid and be eligible to pay tax, including the universal social charge on income, and obtain a tax credit and welfare benefits in their own right. The common age of sexual consent is 17 years of age. People can enter a meaningful and loving relationship and become a member of a trade union. These are all things that 17-year-olds can do, and rightly so. I have listened to some of the things that have been said and they make sense. As I said, I support the Bill. I want to thank in particular Senator Malcolm Byrne for driving this initiative forward at this time.