Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will address some of the points raised by Senator Garvey before coming to the amendment, in particular the voting age. My view is that I would like to see the voting age in Ireland reduced. It is included in the draft research programme for An Coimisiún Toghcháin. I am more than happy to consider the issue once the recommendations have been issued by the commission. I hope the research comes back in a timely manner ahead of local and European elections so we can make an informed decision on it.

We want to examine the Scottish experience, in particular. The Senator mentioned Scotland. A number of the jurisdictions I had a look at had a very positive experience with reducing the voting age. We received representations. On a number of occasions I met the Irish secondary school students association and other youth organisations that have advocated for a reduction in the voting age. The matter was raised directly with me by members of the Children and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. They feel they need to have a vote. That is important. There are other opportunities for young people to participate in our democracy through Comhairle na nÓg, Foróige and other outlets, but voting is a basic constitutional right. Young people have the responsibility and many feel they want to have the right to vote. We look forward to the report coming back from the commission in that regard.

The location of polling stations is probably a matter for local authorities and returning officers. It is something that can be discussed locally.

In my response to amendment No. 4, I will refer to six-seat constituencies. It is a Government decision not to go through three, four or five-seat constituencies in the terms of reference for the commission in drafting the boundary recommendations for the next general election. In terms of representative democracy, six-seat constituencies are more balanced and provide for the opportunity for more diversity to emerge from elections. It is something we will be in agreement on. It is in the draft programme. That has addressed the issues the Senator has raised.

Amendment No. 4 proposes to insert a new section 5 to require An Coimisiún Toghcháin to undertake detailed research within a period of two years from the enactment of the Bill on the abolition of three-seat constituencies and on a system that has a fixed sized Dáil and a fixed number of constituencies, with the number of Members to be elected for each constituency to be changed from time to time so as to be aligned with changes in the distribution of population throughout the State. I am supportive of independent and objective research being carried out to strengthen and promote Ireland's democracy and electoral processes. That is why we established An Coimisiún Toghcháin and assigned it a very specific function to carry out research on electoral matters.

While I accept that the amendment is well-intentioned, I do not propose to accept it. Senators will be aware that early last month, An Coimisiún Toghcháin published a draft research programme 2024-2026 setting out a number of items it intends to research. It also announced a public consultation on this draft research programme, inviting all interested parties to make submissions, including any additional research projects that might be considered important to promote and enhance Ireland's democracy and electoral events. I understand the deadline for the receipt of submissions is 12 January 2024. I urge parties and individuals to make submissions over the Christmas pudding. It is a period of downtime for us all, but it is important that we help to shape the research programme.

Notwithstanding the current public consultation process, An Coimisiún Toghcháin is required, in accordance with its obligations under the Electoral Reform Act, to consult, among others, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in preparing and finalising this draft research programme. In light of the public consultation process under way and the requirement for An Coimisiún Toghcháin to consult the committee, it is not necessary to legislate for a specific item of research to be provided for in the Bill. The inclusion of the proposed item of research in the commission's research programme can be considered during the discussions that will take place during the consultation between the committee and An Coimisiún Toghcháin. I again urge Senators to make their submissions to the commission ahead of the 12 January deadline.

The House might also wish to note that An Coimisiún Toghcháin signalled in its recent draft research programme that it intends to carry out research into the issue of representation on the manner in which the overall number of TDs is determined in the context of the rising population and current constitutional and legal provisions in this area, as well as research on constituency magnitude, including the merits of constituencies larger than five seats. Accordingly, in light of the fact that An Coimisiún Toghcháin is committed to undertaking research on the future size of Dáil Éireann and the possible future make-up of Dáil constituencies, I do not believe it is necessary to legislate for these items of research to be provided for in the Bill. For that reason, I oppose this amendment.