Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Fine Gael Senators, particularly Senator Seery Kearney, for their work on this and welcome the Minister. Young people have had a particularly difficult couple of years. The fact that we are talking about this today shows that we value them and acknowledge that difficult period and that we must make moves to ensure it does not have a negative impact on their lives. One thing about which I am particularly passionate is youth participation. Since the children's right referendum in 2012, we have seen a stepping up in this area and the idea of "nothing about me without me" has entered policy across the Department and Tusla. I have been on the receiving end of it as a family. Sometimes it can be very ad hocand almost like "youthwashing" so we need to examine this area, particularly when we have seen young people stepping up during this pandemic like never before and really having their voices heard. Senator Hoey mentioned the ISSU. Young people have gone to places we never expected them to go, have led the charge and have almost designed this leaving certificate themselves. It was what they were asking for and they got it. Policy and how we act with regard to youth participation need to bring them into the middle of it and I would love to see some work from the Department in this regard. I am sure there is work being done in that regard.

There have been so many small and large announcements from the Department that it is almost too much and overwhelming. Even the LGBTI+ capacity grants scheme, which is going towards young people and their families, is one part of that. It is important that all these little pieces go to individual groups of people because young people have had a hard time but the most vulnerable are the ones who are the most deeply impacted upon. The Minister has this in mind all the time.

We really need to look at whether education is matching up to some of the activities within the Department. It is not the fault of the education system but it does mean that we need to step beyond that and have relationships and sexuality education, RSE, that is the same across the country instead of it being a postcode or school lottery. There has been a lot of talk about Flourish. I want to see RSE that respects everybody - their sexuality and their families. This is what the Government can do. I have spoken a lot about voting at 16. The programme for Government contains a commitment to look at a reduction in the voting age so let us do it.