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.