Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the recent EU Youth Conference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17293/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to report to the Deputy on the EU Youth Conference which was the flagship event in the Irish EU Presidency Youth Programme 2013.

The European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Ms Androulla Vassiliou, joined me at the opening of the Conference to hear what young people have to say about matters that affect them.

The Conference is the highlight of Ireland's Youth Presidency and almost 180 young people and policy makers jointly discussed social inclusion challenges that impact on young people’s lives such as employment and social supports as well as the role of quality youth work.

The Conference marks the culmination of consultations with 11,000 young people across 27 EU Member States on the theme of social inclusion. In Ireland over 200 young people participated in consultations in Cork, Dublin and Sligo as part of the process.

The Conference was organised by my Department in partnership with the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). It was a major opportunity to showcase the talent and innovation of Ireland’s young people and the youth sector. Almost 100 young people were involved in supporting the Conference. They acted as volunteers and took on roles as guest MCs and speakers, and provided inputs through Arts and Drama presentations. Over the three days some 25 information stands showcased the work under way in youth programmes in communities throughout the country.

The feedback about the young people's contribution has been very positive and the success of the Conference is attributable to their enthusiasm and engagement with the event. I wish to pay tribute to them and thank them for their involvement.

The Irish EU Youth Conference was the first conference within the Trio Presidencies of Ireland, Lithuania and Greece, highlighting the theme of the social inclusion of young people. Seven thematic areas drawn from the results of national consultations provided by 27 Member States and 10 International Non-Governmental Organisations were explored at the Conference via joint workshop sessions. The seven thematic areas identified were:

- Employment – employment leads to inclusion

- Education – inclusive education for all young people

- Participation – equal rights and equal opportunities to participate in civic life

- Welfare – access to welfare

- Support – social and youth services for young people

- Youth organisations – youth organisations and social inclusion

- Quality – assuring quality in youth work to ensure social inclusion

Young people and Ministry officials from the 27 Member States have jointly defined the 21 conclusions arising from the Conference. The conclusions from this Conference will be brought forward in the current trio cycle and will inform the Structured Dialogue components of the Lithuanian and Greek Presidencies, which will ultimately inform the development of a Council Resolution on Structured Dialogue at the end of this current Presidency Trio. This is a clear and compelling example of young people’s voices and vision directly informing youth policy.

Further important activities under Ireland's EU Youth Presidency Programme includes the Council of the EU Youth Ministers which I will chair in Brussels on 16th May and the Round Table Meeting on the contribution of youth work to young people's development and preparedness for employment which I will convene in Ireland on the 20th and 21st June.