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The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ Bill on Thursday calling for a legislative pathway towards reducing the voting age from 18 to 16 years. Deputy Aidan Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “My Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025 is an important piece […]

The government must urgently regulate the sale and marketing of nicotine pouches, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Nicotine pouches are increasingly being used by teenagers across the country – they’re cheap, flavoured, and aggressively marketed to children. “The product is widely available in corner shops with no age restrictions, packaging […]

My experience as a youth worker tells me that young people engaged in criminal behaviour often don’t choose it Social Democrats children’s spokesperson Aidan Farrelly has strongly criticised the government following the publication of a Probation Service report that confirms there has been a 10 percent increase in child referrals to the service. Deputy Farrelly […]

My experience as a youth worker tells me that young people engaged in criminal behaviour often don’t choose it Social Democrats children’s spokesperson Aidan Farrelly has strongly criticised the government following the publication of a Probation Service report that confirms there has been a 10 percent increase in child referrals to the service. Deputy Farrelly […]

The results of today’s Global Youth Participation Index show conditions are ripe for the introduction of a reduced voting age, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “Ireland has ranked 18th out of over 140 countries worldwide in terms of youth participation in political, economic and civic life – those aged […]

Today, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly will introduce the Reduction of the Voting Age to Sixteen Years Bill 2025, to provide for a legislative pathway for the reduction of the age at which a person may vote from 18 to 16 years of age in Ireland. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s spokesperson for children, equality […]

The Social Democrats today published their manifesto for young people, which commits to increased investment in areas such as youth work, education, mental health, sport and recreation, and transport. The policy was launched by Cllr Aidan Farrelly, the party’s candidate in Kildare North, and justice spokesperson Catherine Murphy. The strategy outlines how, in government, the […]