Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he “wouldn’t rule anything out” when asked whether a referendum could be held to reduce the voting age to 16 during the Government’s current term.
Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings on Tuesday morning ahead of the day’s cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach said the idea would be given “serious consideration.”
“I’ve always been open-minded in respect of that,” he said.
“I don’t have an issue with reducing it to 16. We will give that serious consideration, we’ll engage in the debate. But we don’t have any timeline for that.”
When asked if he would rule out such a referendum within the lifetime of the current Government, Martin responded: “I wouldn’t rule anything out in that regard.”
“That’s something that we will give consideration to debate the pros and cons of it. And I think that’s what the Dáil is for – bringing forward ideas like that. It’s not the first time that idea has been brought forward. And I’m all for increased participation and engagement. So we’ll work through that in the Dáil and take it from there.”
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris, also speaking to Gript this morning, said he was “not sure now is the right time” to proceed with such a change.
“I always have an open mind in relation to these things,” he said.
“I would have heard from young people in the National Youth Council of Ireland and the likes back in the day in relation to this. But I remain to be convinced at the moment. I’m not sure now is the right time in relation to that. But I’m always happy to debate issues like that.”
Harris, who is now 38, previously spoke in favour of exploring the issue at the National Youth Council of Ireland’s “Vote At 16 Conference” in 2012, when he was the youngest member of Dáil Éireann at the age of 25.
Elsewhere in Government, opinions on the proposal appeared mixed.
Children and Youth Minister Norma Foley gave a non-committal response when asked for her view, while Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton stated outright that she believed the voting age should remain at 18.
The comments come as Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly introduced the Reduction of the Voting Age to Sixteen Years Bill 2025, which seeks to pave the way for a referendum on lowering the voting age.
Farrelly, the party’s spokesperson for children, equality and youth, said the aim was to afford 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in time for this year’s Presidential Election.
“If one can work full time and pay taxes, it is only fair to afford that person with the formal opportunity to influence how these taxes are spent, locally and nationally,” he said.
“People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their peers aged over 18, but are unjustly restricted when it comes to democratic participation.”