THE CABINET may be asked to approve a change to a 32-year-old law banning the over-70s from jury service.
Age Action has been calling on the Government to relax the age restrictions, saying the ban prevents hundreds of thousands of older people from performing their civic duty.
Currently, under the 1976 Juries Act, people aged 18 and over and under the age of 70 years are qualified and liable to serve as a juror.
People excusable from jury service as of right include those aged 65 years or over and under the age of 70. Prior to the 1976 law the upper age was 65 years.
Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said he is "considering the removal of the upper age limit" for jury service.
The Minister said the changes he is considering "would allow for persons aged over 70 years to be called for jury service but would retain the right of excusal for persons over the age of 65 who wish to avail of it.
"I will of course have to consult with my Cabinet colleagues on the matter." If Cabinet clearance is given, the Minister plans to amend the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 as a mechanism to make the change.
In reply to written Dáil questions, the Minister told Fine Gael equality spokesman Michael D'Arcy and Sinn Féin justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh that the 2006 Bill already makes a number of amendments to the Juries Act and is currently before the Seanad.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said there was a "perceived discrimination" where people over 70 were allowed to give expert testimony in the courts but were banned from serving on juries.
Age Action says there are 468,000 people - 11 percent of the population - aged over 65 who are generally retired and more likely to be available for jury duty.
The organisation says less than a third of people called for duty actually attend, while a large minority of people who wish to serve, and have time, are barred from doing so.