Press Release
20 April 2005
For immediate use
Youth councillors represent Donegal at Dáil na nÓg
Donegal youth councillors represented the county at Dáil na nÓg, the National Youth Parliament of Ireland on Saturday 19 March in Croke Park Conference Centre. Donegal Youth Council have long established links with The National Youth Council, National Children’s office, National Youth Federation and Foróige who are all part of the Dáil na nÓg organising team.
Aiden Carty, Criostóir O’ Dochartaigh and Alice Flanigan were among 200 young people who attended Dáil na nÓg and with over one million young people under the age of 18 in Ireland, each delegate represented more than 5,000 young people.
Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D., Minister for State with responsibility for Children, addressed the Dáil and gave an update on the outcomes of the 2003 Dáil na Óg. Mr. Lenihan stated that this was an excellent opportunity for young people to feed directly into government policy and this would be continued throughout the year through Coiste na dTeachtaí
The young people attending the Dáil voted to discuss two key themes affecting young people in Ireland; alcohol and drug misuse and facilities for young people. After a lengthy debate on each topic, delegates had the chance to vote on all statements put forward, by means of an electronic voting system, allowing immediate results to be shown and collated on a large screen. The following outcomes were agreed for 2005; Garda training, more youth funding, education and awareness, shock advertising, alcohol free facilities, committees on access, peer learning programme, specific advertising, compulsory education, drug control at Ports.
A representative committee (Coiste na dTeachtaí) of the Dáil was set up. This committee consists of 25 delegates and will give young people the chance to follow up on what was agreed by delegates at Dáil na nÓg, to represent the Dáil at relevant conferences such as NYCI conference on Alcohol and to meet and present the outcomes of Dáil na nÓg 2005 to Ministers, T.Ds, government officials and representatives of the Taoiseach’s office.
A question and answer session followed and those on the panel included Minister Brian Lenihan, representatives from Garda Juvenile Liaison, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education.
Aiden Carty youth councillor said that “it was a great experience to meet other young people from around Ireland who are working together to improve conditions for young people in their areas. Its our responsibility to represent young people in our county and by attending Dail na nÓg it gave us an opportunity to highlight our issues to the government”.
For further information contact:
Anne Marie Conlon
Communications Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72574
Mob: 087 9192275
Email: amconlon@donegalcoco.ie