Five young people from Mayo travel to Dáil na nÓg 2024

Five young Mayo people were amongst over 160 delegates from Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils) across Ireland gathered in Dáil Éireann to debate the critical issue of mental health.

Mental health was identified as the priority issue for discussion in advance of the day, which they feel that the Government should do more to address.  

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, thanked the Ceann Comhairle and the Houses of the Oireachtas citizen engagement team for working with his department ‘to make Dáil na nÓg 2024 happen’. 

“I know that Minister Foley and her officials have engaged very positively with the outgoing National Executive on their topic of relationships and sexuality education. 

“The incoming National Executive will work on this issue over their two-year term, and the support of Minister Butler and officials in the Department of Health will be a critical element in the impact they can have,” said Mr O’Gorman.

Dáil na nÓg, Ireland’s National Youth Parliament, now in its twenty-second year, tackled a range of issues related to mental health, including body image, school stress, and mental health services.

North Mayo TY student, Sinéad Murray, was chosen as one of Mayo Comhairle na nÓg/Youth Council representatives to sit at this week's assembly.

Speaking to ‘The Mayo News’, she said: “It was such an amazing feeling, I was nominated because I was Mayo Comhairle na nÓg’s previous national executive so for me anyway it was a way we got to display our work over the past two years, so it was just such a sweet and amazing thing that we were able to do” said Sinéad. 

At the assembly, Sinéad spoke about how poor the services around mental health in rural Ireland.

“I was lucky enough in the Dáil chamber to bring up a point about mental health services in rural Ireland and how they're lacking, which was just the most surreal experience on earth, I never thought, especially at my age, to be able to do that,” she shared. 

The biennial parliament, which provides a platform for young people to speak about and make recommendations on the issues that most affect them, was hosted by the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who chaired the Opening Session in the Dáil Chamber. 

Previous themes of Dáil na nÓg have included equality, climate action, education, and transport. 2022’s delegation voted for ‘A more inclusive Relationships and Sexuality Education' as the priority topic.

To progress this, the National Executive 2022-2024 contributed their views to two National Council for Curriculum and Assessment submissions, attended round table discussions hosted by the NCCA on the content, and conducted surveys with Comhairle na nÓg members.

They have also invited and taken part in discussions with relevant experts in the field from the Department of Education, Dublin City University, the Health Promotion Research Centre and the World Health Organisation. They have made a proposal to the Department of Education, who welcomed their work and committed to consider ways in which to implement their recommendations. 

Chairing the debate, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, called the young people gathered in the chamber ‘a powerful force for change’. 

“At a time when parts of the world are in turmoil with war, hunger and the devastation of climate change, it is you who hold the keys to your own future. Your discussions today on the themes of Mental Health, Body Image and School Stress will evoke thoughts and compassion for your peers and colleagues. 

“If there is one thing I would encourage you to do in this Chamber today, it is to listen completely. When you listen, you play one part of the conversation. The golden rule of being a good speaker is to be a good listener,” he said.

In her closing remarks to delegates, Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People Mary Butler said she was ‘really pleased’ to listen and engage with ‘160 articulate young people across all 31 Comhairle na nÓg’. 

“The voice of younger people must be heard and listened to, particularly on issues such as youth mental health. I want to thank each and every one of these young people for the valuable contributions they are making to society. As advocates representing young people across Ireland, I have heard your voices today and I share your vision for improvement and progress, especially in relation to signposting services that are available for young people to support their emotional wellbeing and to support positive mental health. 

“I am familiar with the fantastic work that Comhairle na nÓg do. Our young people are the future leaders, and it is great to see them here in the Dáil chamber today discussing such an important topic,” she concluded.