Ms Roisin Myers:

I thank the Senators for the recognition. I will first refer to Senator Horkan's questions on what I would first act on if I were put in government right here, right now. I would act on the Mental Health Act 2001. Mental health issues have been exacerbated due to the pandemic, especially among young people. This Act has been lying idle for many years. It was first brought up and signed on by multiple politicians in 2001. The committee reconvened on it multiple times in the past few years and, yet, it has still to be implemented.

This Act would be revolutionary for young people. It would allow them to access mental healthcare, which is desperately needed, especially in lieu of recent events surrounding Ireland's mental-health sector for young people. It would give them access to mental healthcare of their own volition without needing to consult a doctor or have their parents or guardians involved. It would be amazing and revolutionary. I still wonder why it has not been implemented. It is vital and very much needed. I strongly believe that physical health is just as important as mental health. Why are we staying so idle when our young people are bleeding out? It is shocking.

The Senator asked what we would do to engage young people in voting, especially people who are of voting age and have not registered. I would make it mandatory for schools to have members of the Garda come into school to speak to fifth and sixth years who are coming of age or of age to vote. They could set up a quick event in which people could register to vote. It is a very simple and quick process that would help many people. The process can be tricky and confusing to go through on one's own and this would mitigate many people avoiding voting.

I think Senator Ó Donnghaile's question was misconstrued within the line of communication but I wish to refer to it. I think it was something along the lines of EU funding being an incentive for young people in Northern Ireland to vote to rejoin the EU. I agree that it may well be but I was speaking about the here and now, and the very near future. We require funding for young people, irrespective of their geographical background. Whether they are from the north or the south of the island, they require attention. In order to move towards a more peaceful and understanding future between the two sides, an equal and level playing field is needed. Young people should be offered opportunities to engage in national and international youth work, irrespective of where they are from. That is what I was talking about with regard to requiring funding from the EU.

Senator Currie is preaching to the choir. She was speaking the language when she said we needed more adults and volunteers to man youth organisations. To travel to an event with the National Youth Council of Ireland, I have to get up at 5 a.m. to catch a train at 6 a.m., to be in Dublin for 11 a.m. for an event.

It is extremely exhausting for me. There are not enough facilities down in Cork, where I am from. I am from a town but have to catch a train to travel to the city just to get to my local group. There is no group for me at a sufficiently local level to allow me access within my community. I have to take a whole day off school. This is a huge demand for me given that I am doing the leaving certificate. It is incredibly taxing on my student life, yet I am so passionate about this that I am willing to take the risk. We absolutely need more engagement down south for everybody, especially regarding the training of people to look after these youth events. Many young people, being under 18, cannot attend the events without adult supervision. There is no incentive for them. It should be mandatory that we provide more training events, widespread throughout the country, for adults to engage in youth work.

Senator Black asked about a forum I suggested. I do not just suggest a forum as a one-off event. I suggest that a committee of young people convene to speak about issues that will affect young people's futures. To move towards a brighter future in which we have a level playing field for everybody, we need to have a say on all these issues. As committee members can see, a wide spectrum of issues have been raised regarding the constitutional future on the island of Ireland, but these issues need to be talked about in more depth. We need to have young people to consult on these issues. Therefore, I propose an ongoing initiative, not just a once-off forum.