Constitutional Convention referendums
James Bannon asks when recommendations such as lowering the voting age and presidential candidacy age will reach the Dáil. The Taoiseach confirms referenda are planned next year and legislation will be required.
In milder tones, I was happy to be involved in considering a range of issues that were debated at the Constitutional Convention, an important forum that was set up by the Taoiseach and the then Tánaiste. When can we expect some of the recommendations passed by the convention to be before the Dáil, for example, the amendment of the Constitution to lower the voting age to 16 years and the eligible age of candidates in a presidential election to 21 years?
Comment on this
There is, a Cheann Comhairle, in the sense that the Government is committed to a number of referenda next year. Ones that we are committed to are two of those that the Deputy raised, so legislation will have to be produced. Obviously, we will have to set up a referendum commission. We also committed, of course, to the marriage equality referendum.