I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank the Social Democrats for tabling it. Votes for 16- and 17-year-olds is a matter of fairness. In my opinion and that of my party, it is a matter of the future vitality of our democracy. For too long, we have clung to the arbitrary line in the sand drawn at 18. We tell our young people that on the eve of their 18th birthday, they are disengaged, uninformed and unprepared for the solemn act of voting. Yet, on the morning of that birthday, by some miraculous overnight transformation, they emerge as full, responsible citizens. This is a fiction and we all know that to be the case. The reality is that our 16- and 17-year-olds are already active participants in our society, carrying responsibilities that fly in the face of their exclusion from the ballot box. They are workers paying taxes on their earnings, they are carers providing vital supports to family members, and they are climate activists articulating with clarity and passion the stakes for their generation in a way that often puts us to shame. They are digital natives navigating the complexities of the information age. To tell these young people that they have a stake in our society, that they must obey its laws and contribute to its economy, while simultaneously denying them a voice in its direction is a contradiction. Some will argue that they lack the maturity or the knowledge. This is a patronising and outdated view. In fact, it is plain wrong. At 16, a young person in Ireland can consent to medical treatment, can join a political party, as many have said. Indeed many of the most energetic campaigners in all our parties are in this very age group. They are studying CSPE, politics, history, geography and a range of other important subjects at school, engaging with the very issues we debate in this Chamber day in, day out. Are we really saying that the student grappling with these issues on a daily basis is not qualified to vote? I think the logic does not hold at all. In fact, you could reasonably argue that they are more qualified than the general voting population. Furthermore, this is not a leap into the unknown. The minimum voting age in many countries is already 16. It differs in different areas. We heard about different examples. However, the principle is well established. The Scottish example is one we can point to. This is a long-standing Sinn Féin policy, as Deputy Conway-Walsh has pointed out. We hope to see it delivered in the North. The next general election has been mentioned. We would like to see it delivered for the next assembly elections as well. Lowering the voting age is an investment in our democratic health. Habits formed young last a lifetime. By inviting a 16-year-old into the democratic fold, we foster a lifelong connection to the political process. We tell them that their voice matters now, not at some distant point in the future, when the critical decisions affecting their lives may have already been made. It is the most powerful antidote to the cynicism and disengagement that can threaten any democracy. This is about the long-term health of our democracy as we strive for a true republic. It is about trusting the young people of Ireland who will inherit the consequences of the decisions we make today on housing, on climate and on everything else. I echo the call for the Government to withdraw its amendment. Deputy Conway-Walsh mentioned the permanent Government getting hold of this, whether that is in the form of another agency. I remember listening to a civil servant who said to me that their job was to tell politicians and Ministers it is not that straightforward. That was a great civil servant, but in this case it is just that straightforward. Let us be bold, let us be brave here, let us trust young people and deliver for them. Give them the opportunity to have a real stake in our Republic and in our democracy. Please withdraw the amendment. This is a powerful piece of legislation that we should work together on delivering.

Sentiment score: 0.15