Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses today, who clearly have watched the previous sessions. As it is quite clear, I thank them their involvement throughout the course of this section of our work.

I seek their views in relation to the use of technology, technology as a tool of the modern era and over-restriction with regard to technology. Could we be doing a disservice to young people who are not learning how to manage themselves in all areas of life? Politicians’ lives are very much in the middle of technology but, for the most part, adults’ lives are different, depending on their generation. We do have a responsibility.

Either Mr. Mulconry or Mr. Curtis raised the point that there used to be more time out on the street to kick about and to mix with people of all ages. I have brought this up previously but I wonder whether separating people by age is always the best way to go about dealing with young people through our education system. It is not normal life. It is not what happens outside of school and outside of the education system. When we go to work, we mix with people of all different ages. The only time we will be with people who all are the one age is when we are in school. Do witnesses have a view on how we might change the education system to better reflect the kind of relationships that we have in the outside world?

Last week, Mr. Matthew Ryan from the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU, raised the question of how much we empower young people to make decisions in the school system around how to deal with bullying and what kind of structures are put in place. He quite rightly said that we, as adults, do not have the same experience of the technological world, for instance. Through their own patron bodies, how much do the witnesses involve young people in decision-making on how to deal with bullying?

The Growing up in Ireland study mentioned that many things have changed for young people. However, it did still say in the most recent report that 10% of 13-year-olds said they had felt bullied in the previous three months. That is still quite significant. That is touching a large number of families, if one considers that families may have two or three children. That has an impact on family life as well. It is important to remember that.

Finally, in relation to RSE, does Mr. Mulconry feel confident that the kind of education in the 90% of schools that are Catholic is reflective of every family, gender identity and form of sexuality that we have in society? Are children learning about respect for themselves and for their varying genders and identities?