Ms Suzanne Connolly:

Addressing the overall challenge of bullying in society cannot just be left to schools. We have to give support to families and communities. We must examine the broader system and how we all operate. We all have to learn how to work positively with difference, challenge effectively and non-aggressively, and recognise that children, young people and parents have a range of feelings and emotions. There are ways of dealing with these effectively and of disagreeing effectively in a way that does not dismiss or minimise somebody else's position.

The reason Barnardos is stressing the importance of prevention and early intervention is that we can see children being rejected and neglected by their peers and we can see bullying behaviour in our early-years services. It is a matter of modelling for children at an early age the view that all feelings are okay but that all behaviour is not. They must be shown how to deal with a difference of opinion and how to manage if feeling very aggressive.

We really support programmes such as Roots of Empathy because the approach is so non-invasive. Children recognise that although they may observe a disability or a variety of differences, all human beings are fundamentally the same. We all have a range of emotions and go through good days and bad days. Once one recognises our common humanity, regardless of one's age, one just cannot bully in the same way. People with empathy really recognise that they are a fellow human being. We do children an absolute disservice if we do not recognise that they, as with adults, experience very negative feelings towards other people and that, just as they can be bullied, they can also be bullies. Therefore, we have to recognise the reality that we all have that capacity.

If as teachers, adults, parents or individuals in various roles we can accept that reality, we can then really help and equip children. We can also listen to them. One of the reasons children find it very difficult to go home and talk to their parents is because they are afraid of their parents' reaction. They are terrified. Therefore, we have to give children an opportunity to learn how to negotiate their difficulties. We must give them skills and coach them.

The questions that the Deputy is asking are really interesting and broad. A variety of strategies is required and all of us, no matter what our role, must take responsibility for what we model and how we are with each other. Anyone who looks at the news today will see the world is not an easy place to be in at the moment. Aggression, discrimination and such behaviour are rife. Therefore, if in our world we can negotiate, in the ways we can, how we try to address inequality and victimisation, we can also have really good, honest conversations with children that are appropriate to their development and age of understanding.