PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release
24 September 2012
MIC Postgraduate Student Represents Ireland at EU Youth Conference
The EU Youth Conference, a meeting held as part of Cyprus’ Presidency of the EU, took place in Nicosia
from the 11th-13th of this month. Shane O’Sullivan, a postgraduate student within the Department of
Geography at Mary Immaculate College, was selected by the National Youth Council of Ireland as one
of just three youth representatives from Ireland to attend, on the basis of his research.
The overall theme of this conference focused on Youth Participation and Social Inclusion, with a strong
emphasis on young people with a migrant background. The EU youth conference is constructed
around a structured dialogue process, intended to ensure that the opinion of young people is taken
into account in the formation of youth policy in the EU.
Each member state held a national consultation with respect to the integration of migrant youth into
mainstream society, whilst identifying barriers / challenges also faced by migrant youth. Shane was
one of the three representatives from the Irish structured dialogue, We’re Here, Hear Us Now, to be
selected to attend the EU youth conference in Nicosia. The issues and recommendations that
emerged from Irish structured dialogue were shared with all of the delegates from the various EU
member states.
As part of the conference, all of the delegates, both youth delegates and Director Generals of youth
ministries of EU member states, were assigned to workshops, with each workshop having a particular
theme. Shane attended the Equal Opportunities – From Combatting Discrimination to Equal Access to
Labour Market and Social Welfare workshop as it was relevant to his research interests. The
recommendations from each national consultation, which focused on this workshop topic, were
compiled into a working document. The task for Shane’s group was to select and phrase two
recommendations that would form part of the Joint Recommendations of the conference (14 in total).
These joint recommendations will be presented to the European Council in November. The Council of
the EU may adopt a resolution based on the results of the structured dialogue and joint
recommendations. This is the highest possible political outcome of cooperation between member
states of the European Union in the youth field.
The two recommendations from Shane’s workshop were as follows:
 Member states should ensure equal access to health services, including non-urgent health
care, for all people living in an EU country, including undocumented migrants.
 Member states and the Commission should facilitate the exchange of good practices, such as
vocational training, counselling centres and job mentoring schemes, in order to improve the
access to the labour market and ensure fair working conditions for young people with migrant
background.
Upon returning from the conference, Shane commented, “I thoroughly enjoyed the conference as all
delegates were afforded the opportunity to play an active role in policy formulation with respect to
migrant youth participation and social inclusion. Furthermore, this conference provided an excellent
networking opportunity with young people and diplomats from each EU and EEA member state.”
Commenting on Shane’s participation in the EU Youth conference Des McCafferty, Head of the
Department of Geography at Mary Immaculate College, stated, “I am delighted that this opportunity
to participate in both the Irish and EU meetings has arisen for Shane out of his PhD research here in
the Department of Geography. Much of our research, including Shane’s work, has a strong focus on
current policy issues, and it is gratifying to see the importance and relevance of this work being
recognised in this way.”
Shane O’Sullivan
ENDS:
For further information please contact:
Holly Ní Chomáin
Acting Marketing & PR Officer
Coláiste Mhuire Gan Smál/Mary Immaculate College,
An Cuarbhóthar Theas, Luimneach/South Circular Road, Limerick
Tel: +353-61 204998
E: [email protected]
W: www.mic.ul.ie
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