Young voters get chance to rate politicians' responses to issues

A "rate your politician" style website was launched yesterday by the National Youth Council of Ireland to encourage young people to get involved in the upcoming general election campaign.

The council set up the www.hearourvoice.ie website with the slogan "Hear our voice, get our vote". All declared election candidates have been sent a questionnaire asking them whether they support youth council proposals on issues such as housing, health, environment and public transport.

Based on responses received, candidates will be given a star rating from 1-5, and their response to each of the recommendations will be added. Many candidates who have already responded have received four or five stars. However, a significant number of candidates have not yet responded and so received no rating. No candidates have yet responded in constituencies such as Roscommon-South Leitrim or Kildare South, while just Sinn Féin's Seán MacManus responded in the Sligo-North Leitrim constituency. However, seven candidates responded in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency.

"The unique rate my political candidate option will ensure that young people aged 18-29 can find out where each candidate stands in relation to the issues that concern them," said James Doorley, assistant director of the council. The site also contains information on how to vote and e-mail addresses for candidates and sample e-mails if needed. "We hear a lot about the need to encourage and support young people to vote," Mr Doorley said. "This website aims to do just that, by providing clear, concise information on political candidates for young people in the run-up to the election and facilitating them to contact and lobby local candidates on the issues that matter to them."

The website is part of the National Youth Council's "Hear Our Voice, Get Our Vote" campaign which calls on politicians to address the concerns of young people in the upcoming election campaign.