Vol. 481 No. 6
4 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the role young people and youth organisations have, if any, in the consultation process within his Department; and the function, if any, they have in international delegations. [16738/97]
Consultation on youth work issues takes place on an ongoing basis between my Department and the National Youth Council of Ireland, which represents young people and youth organisations. This consultative status is statutorily based following the enactment of the Youth Work Act, 1997, and will be maintained in the forthcoming amending legislation. On a more general level, the National Youth Council of Ireland is consulted by Government as part of the social partnership structures under the Partnership 2000 agreement.
The views of young people and youth organisations are articulated at international level, particularly in the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, by the European Youth Forum. The National Youth Council of Ireland is the Irish member of the European Youth Forum. It has been the practice to involve youth representatives in international delegations such as those attending conferences of Ministers with responsibility for youth.
The World Youth Programme for Action to the year 2000 agreed by the General Assembly of the UN recommended that all delegations to the UN should include at least one person under the age of 25 years. The Department of Foreign Affairs has not implemented that recommendation. How can the Minister, who has responsibility for youth affairs, stand over that decision, particularly given that this autumn the issues of youth and education were discussed by the General Assembly? How were the views of young people represented at that conference?
In the resolution adopting the World Youth Programme for Action to the year 2000 member states were invited, where possible, to include youth representation on delegations to UN bodies. I agree with that recommendation and have been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs about it, as has Deputy Naughten by way of parliamentary question. I am informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs that, to ensure the best possible value for money, the people who comprise delegations which meet those bodies must be skilled in negotiation, policy areas and the diplomatic area. The involvement of non-governmental organisations, specifically youth organisations, is being considered actively by the Department of Foreign Affairs. I share the views of Deputy Naughten and will continue to make the strongest possible representations to my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I am glad the Minister will recommend to the Department of Foreign Affairs that young people should be included in the consultative process because that is vitally important.
How can the Minister stand over the decision of the Government not to hold elections on Friday? The Taoiseach said during the week that he did not believe the experiment conducted during the summer was a good idea.
That is a separate matter.
