Tom McEllistrim (Kerry North, Fianna Fail)

I call on the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to introduce European studies along with civic, social and political education, CSPE, as a subject at second level for the leaving certificate curriculum. Irish membership of the European Union has had profound economic, social, political and cultural consequences. In 1973, Ireland was among the poorest, least developed member states and one of the most reliant upon small-scale agricultural production. Our position has been transformed within a generation to one in which Ireland is one of the most successful economies in the European Union.

If the experience of canvassing for a referendum on the Lisbon treaty has taught us anything, it is that despite our application for membership of the European project in 1961 by the then Taoiseach, Mr. Sean Lemass, some 47 years ago, we know and understand relatively little of its structures and procedures. How many times have we heard people claim, especially over the last few months, to be unable to understand the treaty since the campaign for this referendum first began? How often have people dismissed the text of the treaty as technical and difficult? That is because it is technical, difficult and legalistic. As this treaty is about changes to structures, rules and procedures, we have found it necessary to try to explain what those structures are in the first place. If people are not fully aware of the functions of the three pillars of the European Union, for example, how can we expect them to understand or make judgments on changes to the way in which they work?

It is disempowering to be deprived of the understanding of how the social and political world actually works. A lack of political and social science education reduces people's choices as political actors in society. When understanding is missing it results in a lack of ownership of the political process. Democracy is undermined when the people do not understand its structures and rules. We have only begun to understand and respect the people's right to information and familiarisation with political structures in our own country. Great strides have been made to improve political, social and personal education in recent years. The targeting of younger people through the curriculum will benefit generations to come. The development of social, personal and health education, SPHE, in primary schools, CSPE at post primary level and the great work involved with Comhairle na nÓg and Dáil na nÓg have all played a part in educating our young people in politics and society.

The recent development of a schools programme about the work of the Houses of the Oireachtas is commendable and we can see from the extraordinary response of the public and the demand for tickets for the inaugural Oireachtas family day event that an appetite for information clearly exists. Some 4,000 people registered for the event within hours of the tickets becoming available. Members of the public have clearly shown that they want to connect with the centre of politics and it behoves us as parliamentarians to facilitate connection and communication, not just with the Oireachtas but with the European Union as well.

There is a need to bring European studies into second level education as a subject in its own right, unless it could be incorporated with CSPE which is taught up to junior certificate level and could be extended to leaving certificate level. Such a development would widen the opportunity for future generations to learn about and better understand the European Union and our place within it.

Much has been written in recent weeks in the media about how successful Irish representatives, senior officials and interest groups have been in their dealings with EU institutions and our European partners. Such people know how the Union works and how to interact effectively with our European partners to achieve our policy goals. We should not rest on our laurels. We should be preparing future generations for their place in Europe. How better to ensure that the European Union and its structures are clearly understood than by teaching about it in our schools?

Confining EU studies to third level automatically reduces the level of participation. European studies should be a choice of subject at all third level institutes of technology and universities. The availability of European studies at second level would widen the participation and significantly enhance our knowledge of the European Union and its structures and procedures, which are very important to our daily lives. A reasoned and reasonable debate can only be fostered if, as a society, we have a better understanding of what our political systems are and how they work. Opportunities for debate and discussion should not be confined to a month or two before a referendum.

We need to develop greater awareness at all levels about the European Union, whether through schools or through public information programmes. Our second level schools are a good place to start. I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, to consider that the Government should seriously examine introducing European studies as a subject at second level. The subject could also be introduced on a pilot basis in second level schools, for example in Limerick West in the towns of Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West, or in Kerry North in Listowel or Tralee. The better informed we are, the more engaged we will be and the better decisions we can make. Our democracy could only be the better for this.

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