Youth Assembly members debate 'Votes at 16'

On Saturday, 22 March, young people from across Northern Ireland came together for the fourth sitting of the 2023-2025 Northern Ireland Youth Assembly.

Saturday’s sitting, was an opportunity for Youth Assembly Members to provide an update on the work of their Health, Education and; Rights and Equality Committees, as well as their ongoing consultation and collaboration with the Assembly’s Committees and Executive Departments. They also debated a motion on ‘Votes at 16’. 

Speaking after Saturday’s sitting, the Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA said: “The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly has grown from strength to strength and I was delighted to once again grant them access to the Assembly Chamber for their recent debate.

“The insight these young people have been able to bring in relation to the scrutiny of legislation, inquiries and consultations has given both Assembly Committees and Executive Departments the benefit of a different and important perspective.”

Deputy Speaker John Blair MLA, who chaired the sitting, said: “This has been my third time chairing a Youth Assembly debate and once again it has been a tremendous privilege to listen to our young Members speak so powerfully and perceptively on the issues that are important to them and their peers.

“Today’s debate on ‘Votes at 16’ was particularly relevant and topical for the Youth Assembly Members, all of whom presented well researched, engaging and persuasive arguments both for and against lowering the voting age here.

“Today, with 51 votes in total, the ayes had it.  37 Youth Assembly Members voted yes for ‘Votes at 16’ with 14 voting against. The motion was therefore carried.”      

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Sinead Murphy, Communications Officer, Northern Ireland Assembly

Mobile: 0789 9864 368 Email: Sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk  

Notes to Editor:

• The motion in full “That this Youth Assembly believes that the voting age should be lowered to 16 for all elections in Northern Ireland.”  
• The vote tally on ‘Votes at 16 ’was 51 Youth Assembly Members voted: Ayes; 37; No; 14.  The motion was therefore carried.
• The application process for the Youth Assembly opened on Monday 25 September and closed at 5pm on Monday 16 October 2023.
• The selection process was co-designed with young people to ensure that it is as open and fair as possible. 90 Members were selected at random to ensure that young people from all constituencies, Section 75 groups and other communities are represented. 
• The Youth Assembly Members are young people age 12-16 at the time of recruitment. 
• The plenary sittings take place in Parliament Buildings and are presided over by the Speaker or Deputy Speakers in the Assembly Chamber.
• The Committees of the Youth Assembly meet in Parliament Buildings, and in other locations, including virtually.
• Comprehensive safeguarding measures and protections are in place, including training and support for the members of the Youth Assembly and all those working with them.

Find out more about the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly on their website and by following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.