Youth Council urges young people to vote

Over 450,000 young people could make crucial difference in referendum

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is urging young people to cast their vote in referendums on the Seanad and on a new Court of Appeal tomorrow.

“There are over 450,000 young people aged 18 to 25 in the Republic of Ireland according to the latest census figures, and they could make a real difference in the outcome of the referendums,” stated James Doorley, deputy director of the NYCI.

“As the representative body of national voluntary youth organisations working with almost 400,000 young people all over the country, NYCI believes the participation of young people in decision making is a fundamental right,” continued Mr Doorley.

“Low levels of voter participation are not just a concern in their own right but also because they strike at the very foundations of active citizenship. A healthy democracy relies on citizens who are well informed, interested and engaged: so we would strongly encourage all young people to take this opportunity to make their voices heard,” concluded Mr Doorley.
 

ENDS

For further information, please contact Daniel Meister, Communications Manager at NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

* 460,760 young people aged 18 to 25 in the Republic of Ireland.
Source: CSO Census 2011: CD212: Enumerated Population by Single Year of Age, Sex, Marital Status and Census Year

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.