Ms Niamh Diver-Hall:

Good morning to the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee. I am 18 years old and from County Donegal. As we look ahead to our constitutional future across this island, embracing everything that the digital world has to offer could enable us to radically reconsider how we interact with one another and how we can come together in spite of our differences.

Not only this, but it can help to open up opportunities where young people can expand their horizons, and create their own future.

Successive lockdowns over the past two years have led to a massive change in how we communicate with others as we were completely dependent on technology and online platforms to stay connected, continue to work and participate in school. As a young person from a rural area, I know just how difficult it was for people to access technology. I was fortunate enough to be in a household that was able to buy laptops for three children but I know this was not possible for many people in my area. Being from a DEIS school also meant we did not have the resources to send out school devices to everyone, only to those who needed them most. The lack of resources and infrastructure in rural areas greatly disadvantaged young people at a time of urgency. It is my hope that any future constitutional change could address this rural-urban digital divide to support local communities across Ireland to thrive. Due to this lack of access to technology and reliable broadband, many young people in rural areas were left feeling isolated and alone, which led to a decline in mental health. It really affected me to see some of my greatest friends' mental health deteriorate because of this isolation and I could do nothing to help them. I found it difficult to get through the long days of not seeing people other than my family. One of the things that helped me to get through this period was the Internet and the amazing youth groups that adapted to online settings.

One of these was the VRóige project run by Foróige. This group uses virtual reality, VR, to connect people all over the country in a safe and facilitated environment. While in this programme I developed skills such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking and how to be safe online, as well as more practical skills like using the VR headset and navigating different platforms. Unlike being online for school, which was long and stressful and left me struggling to understand the work, VRróige let me escape from the stresses of life, make new friends, and have fun. If it was not for groups like this I do not know how I would have managed the lockdown. They gave me a reason to look forward to every day and a way to meet new friends from across the country and connect regularly on topics I care about when we were all stuck at home.

Online spaces like these could be vital to the constitutional change of this country as they provide a safe and neutral space to bring young people together from different communities and to help lessen the tensions and divides that still exist across this island. These groups are so immersive and inclusive to all people, no matter their disability and health needs, geographical location or social anxiety issues. Digital skills and spaces are important to this conversation, because they will be vital to young people as we go through school, college, and work and they will help to increase our employability. It is important that young people are supported to develop the skills that we will need now and in our futures.

There is a fear that the digital world is dangerous, negative and toxic for people young and old. That is why it is so vital that we prepare young people from an early age with the skills they need to navigate it in a safe and positive way as responsible digital citizens. The subject of our constitutional future is divisive and online platforms often make these debates more polarised but they do not have to be so. They could be positive spaces for developing understanding. This is why it is important that we support young people to use digital tools respectfully and responsibly. I thank committee members for listening to me today. I hope that I have shown how we can use digital and virtual approaches to prepare young people positively for their futures and for the future of this island, whatever it may hold.