Local and European Elections to be held on June 7

It has been confirmed that the Local and European elections will be held on Friday, June 7. 

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced the decision to hold the elections during his visit to the United States for St. Patrick's Day celebrations. 

Adam Ó Ceallaigh, the Green Party candidate for Ballinamore MD, expressed disappointment over the election date clashing with the Leaving Certificate examinations, a crucial milestone for many students nationwide.

Adam, along with advocacy groups such as the Union of Students Ireland, the Irish Second Level Students Union, and the National Youth Council of Ireland, advocated for the election to be held on Saturday, June 8, to avoid disenfranchising first-time voters who would be simultaneously sitting their exams.

Speaking on behalf of this campaign, Adam emphasised the importance of facilitating young voters' participation in the electoral process. He noted that the youth demographic often faces barriers to engagement on election day, and scheduling conflicts with major academic events only exacerbate this challenge. 

According to Adam, empowering young people to exercise their democratic rights requires proactive measures to accommodate their unique circumstances.

"I am disappointed to see the election date has been confirmed for June 7 and will clash with leaving cert exams," Adam remarked. "Young people right now are the least engaged age group when it comes to turning out on election day, and we should be doing everything we can to make it as easy as possible for them to turn out and have their voices heard."

He further highlighted a broader concern regarding the representation of young voices in Irish politics, suggesting that decisions affecting their futures are often made without their direct input. 

In light of this, Adam urged young voters to proactively plan their participation in the elections, emphasising the importance of exercising their right to vote despite logistical challenges.

"Right now in Irish politics, decisions are being made for young people, not by young people," Adam asserted. "It's important for young people to look ahead and plan on how they will get out to vote on June 7 to ensure they exercise their right to vote."