YOUNG VOTERS GAGGED BY GOVERNMENT

Young Fine Gael staged a protest outside Leinster House, on 5th April, to call for a Weekend poll at the upcoming General Election. The protest was attended by Fine Gael Party Leader, Enda Kenny TD.

Speaking at the event, Young Fine Gael President, Elizabeth Munnelly, said: "The recent comments by Bertie Ahern on his preference for a Thursday election confirmed the government are not interested in youth participation in politics.

"Young people working away from home or in college will suffer most by holding an election on a Thursday. Forty per-cent of young people who did not vote in 2002 cited being away from home on polling day or not being registered as a reason for not voting.

"It is quite obvious the government knows that they have let young people down on a whole range of issues from the cost of housing to mental health and road safety and now they are running away from them", she said. 

Maynooth YFG members protesting outside the dail with FG leader Enda Kenny

Fellow Maynooth College Student Catherine Given from Lifford, Co. Donegal said: "Many young people I know would vote if they were at home on the weekend of the election. But to expect me to travel a ten-hour round trip in one evening to have my say is a bit much. I want to live in Donegal when I finish College, so I'd like to vote for the person that will be representing me and not leave that decision to other people. If the Taoiseach had any regard for young people he would hold the poll on a weekend.