Vote for 17-year-olds to be considered under convention

Giving 17-year-olds the right to vote looks set to be one of the first reforms examined by a new convention on constitutional change.

The body, intended to be the driving force behind a range of major changes, was agreed by Fine Gael and Labour as a way of gaining consensus on modernising political life. The reduction in voting age and a move to a five-year presidential term are expected to be the first two issues to be looked at by the convention.

Ahead of talks with opposition parties to formalise its structure and agenda, the convention looks likely to comprise 100 members made up of 66 citizens, 33 political figures and a chairperson.

Micheal D Higgins made it clear in his presidential bid that he wanted to be a member of the body when it was formed.

However, the Áras was unable to state whether he still held this view.

Same-sex marriage equalisation is also set to be discussed by the convention within the next year.

Britain’s prime minister David Cameron, of the Conservative Party, has already pledged to upgrade civil partnerships to make them equal with heterosexual marriage under UK law, and gay rights groups have campaigned for a similar move in Ireland.

A review of the way the Dáil is elected, changes to the Constitution, such as the removal of the blasphemy clause and an amendment of the reference to women and the home, are set to feature on the convention’s agenda in the coming year.

The Cabinet has agreed the broad outlines of how the body will operate and what it will review and is presenting them to the opposition to consider.

The proposed abolition of the Seanad will not come under the scrutiny of the convention as Fine Gael has pledged to put the matter to a referendum.

The Programme for Government said the Coalition would “establish a constitutional convention to consider comprehensive constitutional reform” that would report back within 12 months of being set up.

Labour put pressure on Fine Gael to ensure their manifesto commitment to gay marriage equality would be considered by the convention in negotiations to set up the Coalition last March.

Ministers hope having reforms thrashed out by a representative body will help restore faith in democratic reform after the public’s rejection of the Abbeylara amendment on re-establishing parliamentary inquiries after critics claimed voters were being railroaded into the reform by an arrogant political elite.

A citizen’s assembly made up of people drawn at random from the electoral register (in the manner of jury service) will be part of the constitutional convention, Environment Minister Phil Hogan has stated.