Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2021
175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions taken by his Department to implement recommendation CM/Rec (2016)7 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member states on young persons access to rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30092/21]
View answerThe 2016 Recommendation referred to by the Deputy was approved by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, which is comprised of the Foreign Ministers of each Member State and my Department was consulted as part of this process.
The text sets out recommendations to strengthen young people’s access to rights through a range of social inclusion measures and by addressing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities. The youth sector is identified in the text as a key pillar in promoting young people’s access to rights.
My Department provides substantial funding to a range of national and local youth services that provide support to young people in areas relevant to this Recommendation, including through developing their active citizenship and autonomy, providing access to information and to opportunities for mobility, and enhancing their employability. Special attention is paid through my Department’s targeted funding scheme to young people with fewer opportunities, including those from disadvantaged or marginalised communities.
Another key component of my Department’s role in enhancing young people’s access to rights is through the implementation of Ireland’s National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making, which ensures that policy and service provision at all levels reflect the views of young people. A range of actions have been taken to implement this strategy and enable young people to exercise their rights. Also of relevance to the Recommendation referred to by the Deputy are the measures being taken in line with our LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 (extended into 2021) to support LGBTI+ young people to achieve the same outcomes as all young people.
