Youth leaders have asked the Government to schedule the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty on a Friday to facilitate young voters. The treaty proposes changes relating to justice, home affairs and common foreign and security policies and contains areas of concern to young people, including the recognition of voluntary work by young people, employment, equality and discrimination. The referendum is likely in March or April.
"By our reckoning, the number of people in this country under the age of 25 is roughly 1.5 million and all of them have been born since Ireland joined the European Community in 1973," Mr Eamonn Waters, spokesman for the National Youth Council of Ireland, said. "They were not about when the arguments about membership were being discussed back then. It's very important that they get the opportunity to express their opinions on this occasion."
Mr Waters called for polling hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., as for general elections, to facilitate those who travel home at weekends, including students.
A spokesman for the Union of Students in Ireland said many students were effectively disenfranchised by midweek scheduling of elections and referendums.
Mr Willie O'Dea, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said he had made written submissions to the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment seeking a Friday referendum and he was "reasonably optimistic".
"At a time when we are bemoaning the fact that the number of people coming out to vote is so low, even in general elections, and is particularly paltry in referenda, we should do everything we can to ensure the maximum turnout."