Yesterday it was announced that the government had accepted the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

The matter will be put to a referendum during the term of the current government.

If it is passed, Ireland will join a small list of countries and political entities that have voting ages lower than 18.

Most countries with voting ages of 16 can be found in Latin America and the Channel Islands.

They include Brazil, Argentina, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Cuba, as well as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guersney.

But two European countries (Bosnia and Austria) also have voting ages of 16.

The vast majority of nations amended their constitutions to allow for a lowering of the age limit during the past decade with Argentina the most recent in 2012.

However in most cases there are conditions. In Austria, only those over 18 can vote in European Parliament elections, while one must be employed to vote between the age of 16 and 18.

Meanwhile those aged 18 to 70 are required to vote in Brazil by law, but it is optional for 16 to 18-year-olds. In Argentina and Ecuador it is also optional for that age group. 

The Scottish National Party has also proposed a lowering of the voting age to 16 as part of their independence bid.