John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the well worn phrase from our generation that children should be seen and not heard. While we do not associate that with the modern generation and age group 18 to 25, it seems to be very embedded still culturally. Forced to lockdown down like the rest of us, this group was treated equally in that sense even though they had least to fear. Having done that, they are last among equals when it comes to the administration of vaccines. They accept that or we, at least, think they accept that because nobody seems to speak for them.

In my previous profession I came across a phrase that had a deep impact on me, that is, "lack of expression leads to depression." When talking to the 18 to 25 year olds I get the strong impression that they feel nobody will listen to them. They are angry. The CMO has specifically informed the under 25 age group that they cannot travel this year and it looks like they will not be vaccinated until later this year. In terms of the well-being framework, I would urge the Government to follow the model of our colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who in her deliberations over the rescheduling of the leaving certificate, ensured the students had an equal voice to that of the parents, the teachers, the management and all the stakeholders. Government needs to seek out a mechanism through which we can give this age cohort a voice and people from their own age group who will advocate for them.

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