Press Release
Youth Work Ireland
January 27
"Government Should Follow Constitutional Convention Vote with Immediate Change by
Legislation in Voting Age for European and Local Elections" Says Leading Youth Organisation
Youth Work Ireland today welcomed a vote by the Constitutional Convention to amend the
constitution to lower the voting age. The organisation, which works with around 100,000 young
people, has said the Government should now legislate in the Oireachtas to lower the voting age for
Local and European elections as such a change does not need constitutional sanction and would be a
good start towards lowering the voting age. The organisation also re-iterated its disappointment that
young people under 18 have not been given a place in the actual Constitutional Convention
consistent with the Governments own Children's Strategy
"The local and European elections are the obvious place to begin the process of lowering the voting
age. We have seen with the Children's Referendum and other changes how long the process of
changing the Constitution takes, the current generation cannot wait that long and the public cannot
wait for real political reform. The voting age for the Local and European elections is set by legislation
and not the Constitution, therefore a vote in the Dáil can change this without a referendum. This is
clearly the way to go if the political system is serious about change and the Government is serious
about involving young people in decision making" said Michael Mc Loughlin from Youth Work
Ireland.
“Despite this decision The Constitutional Convention does not systematically include young people
in its deliberations. Young people particularly see the need for change in our basic law and want to
be involved and contribute. Under the Children’s Strategy and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of
the Child the voices of young people should be heard in decisions that affect them. However the
Government has specifically excluded those under 18 from influencing and shaping this convention.
The Minister for Children has sponsored Dáil na nÓg to give young people a say but apparently only
once a year on certain issues. This is even more amazing when we see the issue of changing the
voting age for those under 18 featuring in the convention. The Government really needs to think this
through again” Michael Mc Loughlin from Youth work Ireland added.
ENDS
Contact Michael Mc Loughlin 01-8584509