Dáil na nÓg

A SpunOutter reports back from the 2006 Dáil na nÓg.

Conor Bredin; a Leitrim delegate (youth representative) writes:

I woke up at 6:45am and quickly got dressed. (Didn’t wanna be late!!). I was the Manorhamilton Area delegate, and one out of 5 delegates from Leitrim. The other 4 were from the Drumshambo, Mohill, Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon areas.

There were 2 topics to be discussed at the Dáil:

1.Migration and Interculturalism
2. Facilities for Young People.

At 11am the Dáil officially started and the Minister talked to us. Then a series of presentations followed each one short and to the point but VERY informative.

At 12pm we were split into our tables and began to talk about all the different topics. First and foremost I have to say that everyone came up with brilliant ideas and that if only ONE idea on how to promote inclusiveness (which my table discussed) was used then it was a worthwhile day.

Towards the end of this session, each table had to come up with 2 statements about their own topic. These statements were to be read back and were to be voted on by the other delegates.

After lunch, all of the delegates were split up into their own different areas. Sligo and Rosscommon, Leitrim and Donegal, etc. It was here that the other Leitrim delegates and I “officially” invited the Donegal Comhairle to come down to the next Leitrim meeting and talk to us about how to get a good Comhairle up and running.

Next was the voting. All the different statements that each table put forward were read out, then, using our “Electronic Voting Thingy” (as it was known…) we all said if we agreed or disagreed with each statement.

Now after this was the moment everybody had been waiting for… the question and answer section! Here, with the aid of a microphone and a little bit of courage, the delegates all got to ask the Minister certain questions and to question many other Dáil officials such as a rep from each Dáil department.

While a few good questions were asked like these-

• “I was at Dáil na nÓg 2003 and one topic of discussion was that Irish should be taught by speaking the language, instead of ‘translate this translate that’ why hasn’t anything changed since? You have had 2 years…”
• “Why is there nobody here representing people with special needs?”
• And many more!

However, much to MY annoyance, the Q+A quickly became a complaining session, with stuff such as:

• “My school is in really bad condition, what are YOU gonna do bout it?”

For the final few words, I would like to say that Dáil na nÓg IS worthwhile and it DOES work. And if anybody would like to get involved in it the website is www.dailnanog.ie

A bit more info on Dáil na nÓg:

Dáil na nÓg roughly means "youth parliament" and gives a chance to the children and young people of Ireland to represent the views of all Irish children.

The objectives of the Dáil are to:

- Provide a place where children, who are representative of the average Irish child, can raise and debate issues of concern to them;

- Act as a tool for children's concerns to be fed into the development of public policy making;

- Provide a model for children's participation which can be developed at local level with links to the national Dáil;

- Support civic, social and personal development in children;

- Provide a centre for children to hear and learn about the experiences of other children growing up in Ireland.

By: Conor Bredin

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