Voting age 'should be reduced to 17'

An Oireachtas commitee is recommending the voting age be reduced from 18 to 17.

The Committee on the Constitution is also suggesting a six-month time limit in which to hold a by-election.

There are currently three seats unfilled in the Dáil yet the Government has not announced a date for any of the by-elections, which are needed to elect new candidates.

Fianna Fáil Deputy Michael Kennedy, who is on the committee, said there was cross party agreement that this should be the case.