A Government Minister and Carlow Kilkenny TD has said he’ll explore every avenue to give people over the age of 16 the right to vote in certain elections.
The Green Party’s Malcolm Noonan made the promise in response to a bill that would lower the voting age to 16 for local and European elections.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne has brought forward a bill to make that happen in time for the 2024 elections.
Junior Minister at the Department of Housing and Local Government Malcolm Noonan says it’s something he’ll examine, saying “Young people are becoming front and centre and, as in the UN Convention of the rights of the child, should be consulted and should be part of the process, so I think it’s vitally important that we give due consideration to that and I really welcome this issue being brought forward and give my full commitment that we will explore every avenue to try and make it happen”.