Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Young Social Innovators: Discussion

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms Collier. That concludes our meeting. I sincerely thank the witnesses for coming in, especially the students, Annie Sheppard and Darragh Rawson, and their teacher, Ms Karen Murphy. I also thank the students in the Gallery, including Adam Jordan, Molly Hynes, Chloe Cullen and Hannah Mulroe. I thank them all very much. Darragh and Annie did the speaking, but I know all the students played their part.

They were all influential in the programme and in the research. I thank the principal, Ms Linda Dunne. When I took the chair of this committee, I made a commitment to have as much student interaction as possible. Students as young as 14 years of age have appeared. With the agreement of all the members, for the first time ever, students have been very much a part and parcel of the committee's work. We have engaged with students from throughout the island of Ireland. It is very important the student voice is heard. I thank them for coming before the committee today. It has been very interesting and enlightening to meet them all. In particular, I commend the students on their interaction today and on having the confidence to appear before the committee. They should be very proud of themselves. I know the teachers have had a huge influence over the students being here today and being prepared but, more importantly, so too do their parents. Having support from home is hugely important. They are a credit to their parents, teachers and, more importantly, to their school. They have done a fantastic job of work.

My thanks also to Ms Collier and Mr. Peak from YSI and to Mr. Fitzpatrick who was unable to attend today.