Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I thank colleagues for their courtesy towards me in my role as Deputy Leader during recent Orders of Business. There were requests for debates on several issues which , although not immediately urgent, the Leader might do well to facilitate in the coming weeks. For example, a debate on the rights of children and young people might encompass a range of issues put forward by Senators. In addition, several colleagues called last week for a debate on third level access and youth unemployment, issues which have become particularly topical. For example, there was significant media commentary at the weekend on the comparable rates of youth unemployment in various European countries. A substantial difference in northern countries such as Germany, Sweden and Denmark, where we see lower rates, is the greater emphasis on apprenticeship and vocational training as opposed to focusing solely on university education. This is of particular interest and something to which German policymakers point as a factor in keeping rates of youth unemployment low. Being conscious of our own high rate of youth unemployment, we should look at different ways to tackle it. In that regard, I very much welcome the announcement made by the Minister for Education and Skills yesterday of 6,000 extra places under the Springboard programme because that is the kind of programme which has been successful in other countries in keeping youth unemployment rates down.

I thank the Leader for facilitating a debate tomorrow on the agreement between the European Union and the United States on the use and transfer of passenger name records. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality debated the motion last week and I was one of the members who raised certain issues with the Minister. It will be a short debate, but it should provide enough time for justice spokespersons to put any questions they may have to the Minister.