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President Michael D Higgins call on the Irish youth to help shape Ireland’s future

First of their kind debates to seek the opinions of the seldom heard, Ireland's youth

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, May 18, 2012, 5:19 PM

Updated Sunday, May 20, 2012, 8:48 AM

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Irish President Michael D Higgins

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Irish President Michael D Higgins plans to issue a national invitation to the young people of Ireland to find out what kind of nation they wish to live in and to discuss how that ideal can be achieved.

According to the Irish Examiner, President Higgins committed to hosting a series of seminars with young people during his inaugural address and the first of them will focus on the experience of 'Being Young and Irish.'  

Regional seminars are being planned across the country with the first begining on May 25 and the last scheduled to conclude on Sept 29.   

A tender document in search of a consultant to undertake the nationwide project stated: 'It is envisaged that the Presidential Seminar, to be held later in the year, will be preceded by a comprehensive consultation process in which views of young people will be sought.'   

According to Examiner President Higgins' initiative wants to hear from young people from diverse backgrounds, to seek their views on any difficulties they are experiencing on being young and Irish today.   

The initiative also hopes to involve young people in a national discussion about what kind of country Ireland is, what country they wish to create, and to debate how this can be achieved.   

The consultation process will seek to engage young people in discussion on the following questions:   What kind of Ireland do I want?   What needs to happen to achieve this - what are the issues and barriers to address?   What can I and my peers do to achieve it?   

President Higgins, in his inauguration speech, said the seminar 'will address issues of participation, education, employment, emigration and mental health.'   

'I hope also that the seminars during the next seven years might encompass consideration of global issues, stressing the importance of the ethical connection between politics, economy, development and society,' he said.

Nster.com

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EngineerCivil | Aug 29, 2012, 06:44 AM EDT

I’m a 23 year old unemployed engineer. The options in Ireland are pretty limited at present. I don’t think there’s any argument of ageism in this. The older generations have their voice, they’ve had plenty of opportunity and they’ve mostly looked after themselves well. The younger generations (i.e. the country’s future) are facing a much more serious crisis and they face it right now. This is what the President is addressing. I welcome his quest for feedback but doubt it will do much good. I’ll be leaving these shores shortly. Will be sad to go.

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seanomelb | May 21, 2012, 09:20 PM EDT

So you do admit been Irish bythebay. I have every right to have a negative opinion of you as you make scurrilous and ill informed attacks on anything Irish.Dublin born and proud of it

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IrelandNorth | May 21, 2012, 06:38 AM EDT

Does emphasis on youth not constitute ageism by a septuagenarian President towards older Irish nationals who are younger than himself? Will the "...nationwide project" (sic) include Ulster/Northern Ireland youth? If not, is the epithet not oxymoronic, compounding ageism with equally politically incorrect nationality-ism? Will this juvenile project be followed-up with one for senior citizens as to what kind of Ireland they want to die in? Not least since many IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN fought and died for an Ireland which neither young and old have seen yet? Beware of the bifurcated logic of political partitionism.

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stmungo | May 20, 2012, 09:27 PM EDT

What young people? They are all leaving because the present government & the preceding one have taken away any future they were looking forward to in Ireland!

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 06:52 PM EDT

seanomelb, you live in Australia, part of the British Commonwealth. Hardly one to tell someone in Ireland to do anything!

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT

During the election Higgins was challenged by the pensioners of Tara Mines whose pensions were cut and they asked for his help saving them. He said too bad, he could do nothing because he was no longer in the Dáil!!.

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 06:20 PM EDT

Higgins took a pay cut but so did other members of government because they were overpaid and are overpaid. He's collecting a handsome pension from his days as a TD. He's also getting a substantial allowance for expenses. He wasn't the favorite candidate for election. He was elected only because allegations were made against the favorite candidate that were untrue. That was found out after the election. Then it was too late.

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seanomelb | May 20, 2012, 06:15 PM EDT

bythebay!! should list the presidents non- achievements.Put up or shut up and crawl back inside that Lambegh drum you live in

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 06:13 PM EDT

abhainn, what has he accomplished?

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abhainn | May 20, 2012, 06:04 PM EDT

Bythebay, you accuse the President of having never accomplished anything which reveals your ignorance of the facts. Obviously, you know nothing about Mr. Higgins' accomplished career. I suggest you read about him before you open your mouth again to reveal the depths of your ignorance.

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abhainn | May 20, 2012, 05:18 PM EDT

Bythebay, the President's first act on gaining office was to volunteer for a large pay cut. Then he set about doing useful things like applying his expertise to present Irish problems and showing more creative vision than most Irish politicians. We are very happy with him so far and wish him well in his endeavours. You, on the other hand, can sod off. I mean that cordially, of course.

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 05:00 PM EDT

The President of Ireland is being paid a huge salary by the taxpayers of Ireland to actually accomplish something. Then again he's been in politics for decades, again paid by the Irish taxpayer, and accomplished nothing then either. Taxpayers expect those being paid by them to actually do something.

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Murph46 | May 20, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT

Bythebay talks a lot and accomplishes nothing.

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 03:15 PM EDT

Still waiting to hear what Irish charities received the $100 million raised by the American Ireland Fund, now called the Ireland Funds which reached its goal with the visit by Michael Higgins to Lincoln Center in NY? No word if this money has been delivered or where it has been deliverd in Ireland.

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Bythebay | May 20, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT

Higgins talks alot and accomplishes nothing.

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