The Social Democrats have introduced a bill in the Dáil calling for a referendum to reduce the voting age to 16 years.
The bill was proposed by Deputy Aidan Farrelly, who was proposing his first piece of legislation in the Dáil.
He told the house that reducing the voting age to 16 is an "issue of fairness not competence, of equality not maturity".
He said at 16, a person can work 40 hours per week and pay taxes; can own a dog licence and a dog; consent to medical treatment; and at 17 can legally drive an eight-seater car.
"People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their peers of 18 plus but unjustly restricted when it comes to democratic participation," said Mr Farrelly.
Other countries including Austria, Argentina, Scotland and some states in Germany have lowered their voting age from 18.
He said the Convention on the Constitution back in 2014 recommended lowering the voting age to 16.
He said the change would be "momentous" and would be an opportunity to tell the 16- and 17-year-olds of Ireland "that we value you and your voice that we trust you and your power and that we need you and your participation".
The Government did not oppose the introduction of the bill and it will now go on for second stage debate.
Noel Howard, of Social Care Ireland, said that 16-year-olds are legally children and therefore should not be allowed to vote.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme, Mr Howard said that voting is one of the most responsible decisions that any adult can make and described the demands on young people as "immense".
"Adulthood begins at 18; 16 and 17 year olds are children by law," he said.
"In terms of the decisions that they have to make, society and the law does not allow them to buy a lotto ticket, buy alcohol, cigarettes, to marry, to take out a mortgage, to sign a legal contract, to do jury duty.
"The problem is that they’re children and that voting is essentially an adult construct."
Mr Howard said that it should not be a case where the 16 and 17 year olds who do work 40-hour weeks should be given the right to vote, and that there should be an "all or nothing" approach.
