The Labour Party has unveiled a campaign to lower the voting age in local and European elections to 16.
The party says the move is to ensure the participation by young people at the earliest possible stage in exercising the right to vote.
A lowering of the voting age would also increase awareness in young people of the workings of the EU, according to spokesman on European Affairs Joe Costello.
A number of countries,such as East Timor and Indonesia, have reduced the voting age to 17. Others - such as Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, the Isle of Man and the Netherlands - have reduced the voting age to 16.
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Labour has sought leave to present the European Parliament and Local Elections (Voting at 16) Bill 2007 to the Dáil.