Leas Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Senator Joe O’Reilly has confirmed that third level students will soon be able to vote on the university panel of the upper house of the Oireachtas.
The news comes just over 40 years after a mandate was given to the Oireachtas to pass legislation giving effect to the amendment as voted for by the people.
Senator O’Reilly was speaking on the Wider View this afternoon where he focused on the challenges the Seanad faces as it approaches its 100th anniversary and the important and necessary procedures that it now needs to explore.
Meanwhile, the mandate which was passed in 1979 was never implemented but Senator O’Reilly says that it most likely happened because of "tardiness" on the part of various governments.
He added there is "a cast iron" case for doing it now.
"It should be done; the cynical view would be that the university interests held it back but I wouldn't be too sure of that," Senator O'Reilly continued.
"I'd imagine its just tardiness and indifference on the part of respective governments.
"But there is a cast iron case for doing it now and my understanding is that it will be implemented."
