Diary Note Dáil na nÓg 2019 Saturday, 23 November 2019 Dáil Eireann 10.30am - 4.00pm

Young People call for a stronger voice in Climate Action.

• Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD, will address the 168 Dáil na nÓg delegates at the closing ceremony. Minister Zappone will arrive at Leinster House at 3pm
• Dáil na nÓg 2019 marks the participation of 3,224 youth delegates since it was first convened in 2001
• Comhairle na nÓg National Executive members met to prepare for the event - a photo has issued today. Images will also be released from the event by Maxwell Photography
• a live stream of the opening and closing sessions will be available via Oireachtas.ie and Oireachtas TV. Video of the ceremonies in the Dáil Chamber will be available after the event

Dáil na nÓg, Ireland’s Youth Parliament, is a forum for young people to effect change on the issues that matter to them.

Since the first meeting in 2001, it has given young people a voice in decision-making, and a chance to influence public policy.

Ireland’s youth parliament, convenes every two years, bringing together democratically elected delegates, aged 12 – 18, from 31 local groups around Ireland (Comhairle na nÓg).

This year, as part of the Dáil 100 celebrations, Dáil na nÓg was invited to meet in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Climate Action was chosen in a vote by delegates as the topic for their 2019 meeting and they will discuss and debate this through working groups throughout the day.

168 delegates will attend, with Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghaíl chairing the opening ceremony and Minister Katherine Zappone addressing the closing ceremony.

More information on Dáil na nÓg, as well as reports and work done as a result of previous meetings, including the recently launched #TeachMeAsMe campaign, can be found below.

Dáil na nÓg Process:

Dáil na nÓg delegates are nominated by each of the 31 Comhairle na nÓg in each Local Authority in the country. Comhairle members are democratically elected at AGMs in each Local Authority area. Recruitment processes work with schools and youth services to ensure that the voice of seldom-heard young people is proportionally represented, and that supports, and processes are in place to ensure that child protection measures are foremost at all stages of the work of the Comhairle.

Comhairle na nÓg

Comhairle na nÓg are child and youth councils in the 31 local authority areas of the country, which give children and young people a voice in the development of local services and policies. They are the recognised national structure for participation by children and young people in local decision-making, supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The Comhairle na nÓg enables young people’s voices to be heard in two ways: working on topics of importance to young people; and acting as a consultative forum for adult decision-makers in the locality.

Comhairle na nÓg are supported by the DCYA Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund. Local authorities also provide funding and resources for Comhairle na nÓg, as well as other organisations at local level. This department also funds three regional Participation Officers, who provide advice, resources and training to all 31 Comhairle na nÓg Co-ordinators.

Dáil na nÓg

Dáil na nÓg is the national parliament for young people aged 12-18 years. This department funds and oversees Dáil na nÓg, which is hosted biennially by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Successive independent evaluations note that Dáil na nÓg has gone from strength to strength, with more challenging and contentious debates. Foróige and Youth Work Ireland are contracted to organise Dáil na nÓg in co-operation with this department.

Dáil na nÓg is a practical expression of the government’s stated commitment to implementing Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) through the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making, 2015-2020, giving children and young people a voice in decision-making.

Comhairle na nÓg National Executive

One representative from each Comhairle na nÓg is elected to the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive (formerly the Dáil na nÓg Council), which follows up on the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg and tries to make changes for young people in those areas. The National Executive, which has a term of office of two years, meets once a month and is facilitated and supported by this department, who ensure that they get the opportunity to engage with appropriate Ministers, policy-makers, Oireachtas Committees and other decision-makers to:

• identify key areas of work from the top three recommendations agreed at Dáil na nÓg
• conduct research into the issues identified
• meet with relevant Ministers, TDs, government officials, policy makers and other stakeholders to seek their support in making changes for young people on the issues identified
• feed back to their Comhairle na nÓg on the work of the Council
• represent Comhairle na nÓg at conferences and other events

The Comhairle na nÓg National Executive is named as a mechanism for engagement by children and young people in the implementation structures for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020 and in the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making (2015-2020).

31 Dáil na nÓg Facts

1. Dáil na nÓg is Ireland’s Youth Parliament.

2. The first Dail na nÓg was held in 2001 as part of the National Children’s Strategy.

3. 3,224 youth delegates have participated in Dáil na nÓg since it was first convened in 2001.

4. Young People are elected democratically amongst their peers to attend Dáil na nÓg.

5. Young people are elected from 31 Comhairle na nÓg around the country to attend Dáil na nÓg.

6. Comhairle na nÓg are local youth councils which enable young people to have a voice on local and National issues that impact on their lives.

7. There is a Comhairle na nÓg in each of the 31 local authority areas.

8. The theme of Dail na nÓg 2019 is Climate Action.

9. Dail na nÓg Delegates are aged between 12-18.

10. The 2019 theme of Climate Action was selected democratically by young people at three regional youth participation events hosted by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. These events were held in September 2019.

11. As an initiative, Dáil na nÓg was inspired by Article 12 by of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

12. Comhairle na nÓg and Dáil na nÓg are considered models of best practice of youth participation in the EU and internationally.

13. The first Dáil na nÓg was held in the Mansion House.

14. Comhairle na nÓg are the recognised National structure for participation by Children and Young People in decision making in Ireland.

15. Dáil na nÓg and Comhairle na nÓg are a practical expression of the government’s stated commitment to implementing Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) through the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making, 2015-2020, giving children and young people a voice in decision-making.

16. Dáil na nÓg 2019 is part of the Official Dáil 100 Celebrations.

17. At Dáil na nÓg delegates consider and debate the issues that are most important to young people and they vote on and decide on an area of focus that a team of 31 elected young people (the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive) will work to change over a two-year period.

18. The issues worked on by Dáil na nÓg over the years include Education, Mental Health, Equality and Strengthening Youth Voice.

19. Dáil na nÓg 2001

Dáil na nÓg held its first meeting at the Mansion House, Dublin on 5 September 2001.

Theme: National Children's Strategy

Children will have a voice in matters which affect them, and their views will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• Having a Voice
• Play and Recreation
• Health and Personal Wellbeing
• Minority Groups

20. Dáil na nÓg 2002

The second session of Dáil na nÓg took place on Friday, 11 October 2002. The event was held in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin where the very first Dáil met on 21 January 1919, and where the inaugural (first) session of Dáil na nÓg took place on 5 September 2001.

Theme: LISTEN

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• The Environment
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse

21. Dáil na nÓg 2003

The NCO contracted the running of Dáil na nÓg 2003 to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). NCO and NYCI worked together to plan Dáil na nÓg.

Theme: SUSTAINING PROGRESS

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Educational Disadvantage

22. Dáil na nÓg 2005

Dáil na nÓg 2005 was held on Saturday 19 March at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• ALCOHOL AND DRUG MISUSE
• FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

23. Dáil na nÓg 2006

Dáil na nÓg 2006 was held on Saturday 25 March at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• MIGRATION AND INTERCULTURALISM - The National Action Plan Against Racism
• FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

24. Dáil na nÓg 2007

Dáil na nÓg 2007 was held on Saturday 17 February at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• ROAD SAFETY
• ATTITUDES TO YOUNG PEOPLE

25. Dáil na nÓg 2008

Dáil na nÓg 2008 was held on Friday 15 February at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• EDUCATION REFORM
• EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

26. Dáil na nÓg 2009

Dáil na nÓg 2009 was held on Friday 20 February at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• SEXUAL HEALTH
• HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

27. Dáil na nÓg 2010

Dáil na nÓg 2010 was held on Friday 5 March at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme and topics that were chosen for discussion:

• EQUALITY OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION
• MENTAL HEATH

28. Dáil na nÓg 2011

Dáil na nÓg 2011 celebrated its 10th year anniversary and was held on 18 November at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme: Strengthening the voice of young people through Comhairle na nÓg

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• the Department of Education and Skills should lengthen Leaving Cert cycle to three years and reduce the Junior Cert cycle to two years
• the government should enforce a law that all altered advertisements and images must indicate that they have been altered by means of a symbol and text.

29. Dáil na nÓg 2013

Dáil na nÓg was held on Friday, 15 November 2013 in Croke Park, Dublin

Theme: Mental Health

Topics that were chosen for discussion: Mental Health – What needs to change?

REPORT: Let’s Go Mental*

30. Dáil na nÓg 2015

Dáil na nÓg 2015 was held on Friday 27 November at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme: The need for young people to have a stronger voice in their education and schools

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• BEING MYSELF
• EDUCATION AND SCHOOL
• LIFE AT HOME
• SOCIAL LIFE
• COMMUNITY AND FACILITIES

REPORT: ‘So how was School Today?*

31. Dáil na nÓg 2017

Dáil na nÓg 2017 was held on 6 December at Croke Park, Dublin.

Theme: Equality- In all fairness.

Topics that were chosen for discussion:

• SCHOOL
• HOME/COMMUNITY
• ONLINE
• PUBLIC SERVICES

REPORT: #TeachMeAsMe Campaign was launched on 7 October and Our Schools, Our Voices online resource which will be launched later in the year.

• All reports are available from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.