FINE Gael councillor Daniel Butler claims he is meeting a feeling of apathy towards politics amongst young people while out canvassing for the local elections in Limerick City West.
Daniel (35), who was recently appointed councillor to fill his late father Richard Butler’s seat, is also reminding young people that the time to register to vote is drawing to a close. The closing date for inclusion on the supplementary register is May 6.
“In my experience out there knocking on doors there is a feeling of apathy towards politics amongst people my own age and younger in particular. At my first county council meeting, I looked around the room at my colleagues to see that I was by far on the younger extremes of the age profile,” said Cllr Butler.
The Limerick City West councillor is hopeful that the Local Reform Bill 2013 will tackle the issue of making local representatives more representative of the general population. He is also confident that the Bill will improve community engagement.
“The role has in the past attracted people who may be retired and have perhaps a pension behind them and time to be able to take up the role or self employed people such as publicans who have control over their own hours and have an additional income. It does not support young family people such as myself to take up the role,” Cllr Butler commented.
“People want someone to represent them that can relate to their struggles and their concerns and the system does not support that. Young people now struggle to tell you the name of the Taoiseach. And why should they care if they feel the system does not hear them and support them?” he asked.
