debate on ‘forgotten’ Presidential referendum needed

Issued : Tuesday 12 May, 2015

Galway City Labour Councillor, Niall McNelis is calling for a greater public debate on the Presidential Age referendum which is taking place on the same day as the Referendum of Same Sex Marriage.

The Age of Presidential Candidates referendum is seeking to reduce the required age of presidential candidates from 35 to 21 and is contained in the proposed 35^th Amendment to the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015.

“While it is understandable that the Marriage Referendum has taken precedence in many ways during the past while, I still feel that we need to have a proper debate on the Age of Presidential Candidates Referendum,” said Cllr. McNeilis.

“I will, of course, be voting for Yes in the Marriage Referendum, but I would like to see a greater public debate taking place on the Age of Presidential Candidates Referendum,” added Cllr. McNeilis.

“Polling is taking place in ten days’ time and so far, we haven’t seen much engagement on the matter. This is a very important issue which has been sidelined to some degree by the Marriage Referendum.”

Cllr. McNeilis added: “The Referendum is taking place following a recommendation that emerged from the Constitutional Convention on the issue.

“The Referendum is proposing that every citizen who has reached the age of twenty-one years is eligible for election to the office of President. The President is the first citizen of the country and candidates for the office can be nominated in a number of ways, including by not less than 20 people who are members of one of the Houses of the Oireachtas or by not less than four administrative Counties (including County Boroughs). A former or retiring President may also nominate him/herself.”

“It is too important a subject matter to be left without debate or discussion,” said Cllr. McNeilis.