Debate contribution: Voting Age: 16- and 17-year-olds

Debate contribution by Mr Pádraig Delargy on 24 September 2024.

MLA

Mr Pádraig Delargy

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Voting Age: 16- and 17-year-olds

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4644900

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

I thank all those who contributed to the debate, during which several key themes were raised. The first was access to democracy, which Robbie Butler touched on initially. One area of broad consensus throughout the debate was that this is not just about the future but about now. It is about empowering young people now and ensuring that they have a voice. We are all aware — I am very aware in my role as Sinn Féin spokesperson for further and higher education — of the fact that many young people who are in apprenticeships and work, and thus paying National Insurance, face the consequences of policies that are made here, yet they have no right to vote. That is fundamentally wrong. The second broad area of discussion was on the higher rates of young people utilising their vote. Both Danny and Sian touched on that. We looked at Scotland and other international examples. There are many examples that we could look at, but that of Scotland is a particularly interesting one, because it is in a situation not dissimilar to ours. This is about increasing civic engagement and giving young people, in every forum across society, a voice and ensuring that that voice is heard. Sinéad and Michelle touched on the remarkable political activism that there is. Fundamental to the debate is the fact that we are not speaking to young people but with them and ensuring that they can speak at the ballot box and that their voices are heard not just through voting but in the Chamber. We would all like to see a more diverse Chamber and the opportunity to have a more diverse politics for women, young people and many other groups across society. I joined the Assembly as an MLA at the age of 25, but I had been a political activist for 10 years prior to that. Emma Sheerin and I both entered politics through Ógra Shinn Féin and have both been politically aware from a young age, and I am sure that many in the Chamber have had a similar experience. I am proud that Sinn Féin is leading the way. I am proud that we are a party that does not just talk about young people leading but has young leaders up and down the country and right across Ireland. That is something of which to be very proud. I know that many other parties do the same, and I hope to see every party in the Chamber doing so in future. From looking up at the Gallery, I can see the young people who have come here today. Members can look at the issues that are prevalent in their constituency and see that young people take the lead on all of them. The campaigns for change, progress and inclusivity are all led by young people, and that is very positive. We will support the amendment. It is important that the role of the Department of Education was noted in the text of the amendment, and I share Ms Armstrong's surprise and disappointment that the Education Minister is not here, because there was a lot of discussion about the role of schools in the debate. As a former teacher, I hope that the role of education staff is not being discredited, because their role is vital. Our schools have an important role to play in developing our young people holistically, in every sense of their education. It is therefore important that the Department of Education be represented at the table. The language that we use is important as well. We have to be conscious of the need to ensure that education staff are not discredited in anything that we say to or about schools or about young people. To summarise —.

No. I do not have time. I will summarise by saying that this is not a niche or fringe topic. As my colleague Emma said, it is a fundamental human right. It is about an entitlement for young people and about giving them a voice and the opportunity to be heard. There are challenges that are specific to this generation. Those challenges are unique, and the best way in which to hear about them is directly through the voices of those who are impacted on: young people. I will now set out our party position. Sinn Féin is very clear that it is time to lower the voting age in the North from 18 to 16. We are very clear about that and are proud to advocate an inclusive and progressive politics, where everyone has the right to shape the future. I encourage all Members to support the motion.

786 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:06 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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