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Delegates from Kerry Comhairle na nÓg Keira Griffin, Emma O’Shea, Máire O Shea, Konrad Kopec, Joe Horan and Aodhrán Morrison at Leinster House recently.
SIX delegates from Kerry were among the 160 young people from Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils) across Ireland who met in Dáil Éireann recently to debate the critical issue of mental health.
Mental health was identified by over 3,000 young people across Comhairle na nÓg as their priority issue for discussion in advance of the day, which they feel that the Government should do more to address.
Kiera Griffin, Kerry Comhairle na nÓg member, was part of the Dáil na nÓg Steering Committee and was a speaker in the Opening Ceremony. Keira gave an insightful overview on the work of the Steering Committee and why Mental Health was chosen as the theme.
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“In the autumn, all Comhairlí had their annual youth conferences where they voted on the issues that matter most to young people,” said Keira.
“Over 3,000 of us took part in these conferences to help choose the theme for Dáil na nÓg. As you now know, mental health came out on top. This is an issue of real importance to young people as it affects all of us in some way.”
Other Kerry students taking part were Emma O’Shea, Máire O’Shea, Konrad Kopec, Joe Horan and Aodhrán Morrison.
Dáil na nÓg, Ireland’s National Youth Parliament, now in its 22nd year, tackled a range of issues related to mental health, including body image, school stress, and mental health services.
The biennial parliament, which provides a platform for young people to speak about and make recommendations on the issues that most affect them, was hosted by the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who chaired the Opening Session in the Dáil Chamber.
Discussions were held around how mental health affects the lives of young people in their communities and what changes need to be implemented to address these challenges and improve the experiences of young people in Ireland.
Following a formal vote in the afternoon where delegates processed through the lobbies of the Dáil, school stress was selected as the priority topic.
This will inform the work of the incoming Comhairle na nÓg National Executive 2024-2026, who are tasked with advocating for policy change in this area during their tenure.
Dáil na nÓg is Ireland’s National Youth Parliament and it takes place every two years. Dáil na nÓg provides a forum where children and young people raise and debate issues of concern to them and influence the development of public policy. For more information, visit www.comhairlenanog.ie
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