Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
413. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the research in relation to lowering the voting age to 16 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54908/23]
View answerArticle 16 of the Constitution states that those who have reached the age of 18 shall have the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann. Articles 12 (relating to the President) and 47 (relating to referendums) state that citizens eligible to vote in Dáil elections are eligible to vote in such polls. Part II of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that a person must be 18 years of age and registered on the register of electors in order to vote in any electoral events.
The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future – contains a commitment to an examination of the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age, in order to draw conclusions.
In July, I wrote to An Coimisiún Toghcháin and outlined a number of issues that An Coimisiún might include in its initial research programme, including the commitment in the Programme for Government relating to the voting age. An Coimisiún’s draft research programme, published on 10 November 2023, includes a proposal to examine the issue of the voting age. An Coimisiún is seeking submissions (until 12 January 2024) on its draft research programme. I will review this policy area once An Coimisiún has considered and made recommendations on the issue.
