I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
I would like to thank the House for agreeing to take this Bill at such short notice. The Bill is urgent because some of the provisions contained in it are necessary in order to provide a proper statutory basis for the new register of electors which will come into force on the 15th of next month. The register has been prepared on the basis of a voting age of 18 years in anticipation of the changes in the law proposed by this Bill. The Bill arises directly from the decision of the people at the referendum on 7th December last when they voted overwhelmingly in favour of a lower voting age.
The provisions of the Bill are dealt with in detail in the explanatory memorandum circulated with it but I would like to draw attention to some important aspects. The Bill proposes to reduce the voting age for local government elections to 18 years. I understand and accept that it was the intention of the previous Government to take this step. We have, however, gone a stage further and are proposing that the minimum age for membership of local authorities should also be reduced to 18. This is in accordance with the view which we have consistently advanced that young people should be encouraged to play their part in democratic elections not only by voting but by coming forward themselves as candidates. Deputies appreciate, of course, that the age for membership of the Dáil and Seanad is prescribed by the Constitution and that it is not possible, therefore, to deal with it in this Bill. In any event, perhaps, it is just as well to make a beginning by reducing the age for membership of local authorities. The voting age for election of university members of the Seanad is also being reduced. The electorate in this case are the graduates of the two universities. I understand that there are not many graduates under age 21 who will benefit from this change but I am satisfied, and so was my predecessor, that it is a change which should be made.
I think this short Bill deserves the support of Deputies on both sides and I commend it to the House.