National Youth Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation National Youth Council of Ireland

Date published 12 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Local Government

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Electoral Reform

Intended results To share NYCI's position on the extension of the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds To understand and support the next steps in establishing the Electoral Commission and seeking information on progress in its establishment Seeking information on implementation of pre-registration of voters aged 16 and 17, introduced under the Electoral Reform Act

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paul Gordon

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter to Minister of State Malcolm Noonan seeking a meeting to discuss next practical steps in establishing the Electoral Commission and NYCI’s position on the extension of the franchise issued on 06.10.22

Event / Reception (1)

Raised issue of the extension of the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds at panel discussion at Oireachtas Parliamentary Symposium in Dublin Castle on 13.09.22 with James O'Connor TD and Cllr Daniel Céitinn, panellists.

Email (2-5)

4 e-mails between 18.10 and 02.11 to Gary Gannon seeking information by way of PQ on the establishment of the Electoral Commission and implementation of pre-registration of voters aged 16 and 17.

Email (2-5)

E-mails sent to Emer Higgins and Brendan Howlin seeking information on the establishment of the Electoral Commission and implementation of pre-registration of voters aged 16 and 17 dated 10.10 and 13.10.22

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Malcolm Noonan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Daniel Céitinn Councillor (Dublin City Council)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)