Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending. I greatly welcome the guidelines which are long overdue, as has been said.

Bullying affects all age groups and people from all walks of life. As other Senators have said, it is correct that this is not just an issue for schools. As a primary school teacher, I believe it is a question for wider society. It is important that young people be allowed to take the lead on it. Senator O'Brien and others said that if young people could take the lead and be mentors for one another, they would be far more likely to listen to one another than to parliamentarians. It is said one in five people is bullied in cyberspace. Some 26% of bullying is done via mobile phones. There is no escaping it. One carries one's phone around in one's pocket; therefore, bullying constantly follows the victim. It is permanent. It is important that young people understand that what they put up online reflects on them and what they stand for. They are in a position to acknowledge this.

Reference was made to Comhairle na nÓg in Waterford. It is having its cyber-day on 3 October. It represents 5,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years. It is a very important movement and one I would like to see spread nationwide. It would be very important and change the culture. A cultural change is required across the community.

With regard to how we deal with bullying, primary school is a key area. SPHE has been mentioned. We really need to consider putting in place a programme in schools to teach pupils how to deal with day-to-day life, how to cope with a bad day and how to deal with their emotions if somebody says something that affects them. Young people today feel pressures that my peers and I did not have to deal with. There are many more pressures on them and it is essential that we start to take action in primary schools in order that young people will develop coping skills and be brave enough to report bullying.

What is an important point in terms of cyberbullying is that young people understand that when they publish something on social media they are publishing their own words and there will be consequences, either in terms of future job applications or in the context of bullying their peers. The consequences need to be highlighted to young people. That said, young people themselves need to drive this and there is a great willingness on their part to do that if they are given the opportunity. I commend Comhairle na nÓg in Waterford and Waterford County Council. We should be examining ways to spread their example right across the country.