The Taoiseach is to consider holding a referendum to reduce the age at which a person can be nominated for the Presidency. At a meeting in Government Buildings yesterday, Mr Ahern told the National Youth Council he would examine whether to hold a referendum to bring down the age from 35 years. Such a referendum would be held on the same day as the Presidential election.
Mr Ahern and the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Mr Willie O'Dea, met the president of the National Youth Council, Ms Jillian Hassett and Mr Peter Byrne, the council's director.
After the meeting, Ms Hassett said she believed there was a strong possibility of a referendum on the Presidency age, but the precise age was not discussed. It would have to be considered later.
She told the Taoiseach that 840,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 were excluded from standing for the Presidency and that the turnout of about 65 per cent at the last election was the lowest since 1923. Since 1969 there had been a steady decline in the numbers voting.
There was a need to look at the system to see how it could be improved to attract voters back to the polling booths. Everything had to be examined, she told the Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern said he would arrange for the National Youth Council to have a meeting with the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahern is to chair an interdepartmental committee on how money allocated for the drugs task force by the previous government will be spent.
The National Youth Council suggested that national youth organisations should be used so that resources could be targeted to local initiatives through their national networks.