Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth

Commission for Future Generations Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed)

3:00 pm

Ms Valerie Duffy:

In terms of the Bill and talking about where it might go, and taking into account the representation and ensuring a wide variety of groups are represented or thought about, it will very much be the make-up of the commission in the future. There is a listing within the Bill of the different representative groups that could be included in that commission and it will be very important to ensure those who come from marginalised groups or who are hard-to-reach - or whatever terminology we want to use - are included and involved in that commission. If they cannot have a seat on the commission, with regard to any research or consultation that might inform the commission's work targeted attempts should be made to go out to reach and meet the groups that should be heard to get their opinions and hear their voice. That will in turn help to shape the Bill and, hopefully when it is accepted, the commissioner, the ombudsman or whatever terminology is used in the future.

For us in terms of the UN youth delegate, we are always conscious of representation and do our best to ensure the call for the particular programme for young people is open to anybody to apply. We try to target particular groups to at least make them aware of either the programme itself or the different consultations we might have. I definitely hear what the Senator is saying in terms of the boxing clubs. I know there are some youth programmes that do work with Oberstown or go to non-traditional places. It is very important. Youth work, in particular, would be very conscious that it is not only just those voices you would hear or the same young people you might see at similar events. You want to target those who are sometimes left furthest behind to take the sustainable development goals piece. The furthest behind first or those who are-----

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