Skip to main content
Normal View

Secondary students take over Seanad Chamber for Díospóireacht na nÓg

17 Apr 2018, 12.55

Díospóireacht na nÓg in the Seanad Chamber

The Seanad Chamber played host to a unique debate today. Instead of Senators, 16 secondary students from around the country spoke in the Chamber.

The students were selected from over 350 entrants in an all-island competition to take part in the debate. They visited Leinster House a number of times to participate in workshops on debating and research.

Díospóireacht na nÓg was part of the Vótáil 100 programme which celebrates 100 years of women's suffrage.

The students spoke on the following motion:

"For many Irish women, the diverse and sometimes conflicting strands of these three movements - nationalism, trade unionism and the women's movement - were but different stages of a single struggle for freedom, justice and equality, one that, it was hoped, would be realised in the institutions, culture and society of Home Rule that might be won for Ireland, or, for the more radical, in an independent Irish republic." - President Michael D. Higgins, International Women's Day 2018

Has the struggle for freedom, justice and equality been realised in Ireland's institutions, culture and society?

The debate was streamed live on Oireachtas TV. A recording will be available soon on Oireachtas TV.

Find out more about the Vótáil 100.

Top
Share