generation debt

User:dermotahernDate:09/12/2010Time:16:38:03Edition:10/12/2010Supp1TestamentOfYouthPage:1Color:

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BUDGET 2011

GENERATIONFriday,December 10, 2010

DEBTTESTAMENT OF YOUTH


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GENERATION DEBT Friday | December 10 | 2010 | An Irish Examiner publication2 3

T HERE has been much comment on theburden we as a State are passing ontoour children and young people, as a

result of the momentous decisions taken inrecent weeks to seek international financialassistance. It is likely they will be paying backthis debt for much of their lives. This of courseignores the reality that they are already paying ahigh price for the mistakes of those in positionsof authority and power in recent years.The recession is hitting young people hard.

One in three young men under 25 is out of work.The figures for October 2010 show there are over82,000 young people on the Live Register. Thisdoes not include the many thousands who havealready emigrated in hope of a job and a betterlife. We know from our own research conductedwith young jobseekers, to be published in early2011, that many thousands are planning to leavein the next 12 months.These grim employment prospects are not

helped by the large cuts in jobseekers’ allowanceintroduced in the last two Budgets, which makesit hard for them to make ends meet. Jobseekersaged 18-19 years are entitled to a maximum of100 a week and those aged 20-24 only 150. At

the time, the Government claimed these cutswere being introduced to incentivise youngpeople into work, education or training. Thatwould make sense if jobs or alternatives wereavailable, but they are not. We know from ourwork with young jobseekers that they aredesperate for a job, education or training and inmany cases happy to take unpaid workexperience. However, the reality is that despitepromises, the places are not there to meetdemand. The most recent statistics show 55% ofthose on the minimum wage are under 25 years,and with that being targeted for a cut, it’s hardfor young people not to think they are beingparticularly targeted by Government policy.In other areas young people have also borne

the brunt of cutbacks. Youth work organisationsaround the country that support young people inour communities have been forced to scale backservices, due to a range of cuts from varioussources. Many of these projects work with themost disadvantaged, such as early schoolleaversand are finding it hard to cope, as demand hasincreased due to the recession, along with thefear of further cuts coming down the tracks, thatwill make it impossible to continue. We are alsoconcerned crucial areas such as mental healthservices and suicide prevention programmes foryoung people are being undermined anddowngraded, despite the increase in demand.NYCI accepts our public finances need

correction and some cuts are necessary. What wecannot accept is the haphazard, short-sightedand misguided manner in which decisions arecurrently being made, which are set to condemn

a whole generation tounemployment, alienation andemigration.

It doesn’t have to be likethis. The current generationof young people can be thedrivers of our recovery, ifgiven the chance.

■ Orlaith McBride isPresident of the NationalYouth Council of Ireland

HEN is aknowledgeeconomy nolonger aknowledgeeconomy?When the

employ-ment and education

cuts it implements to save theeconomy directly and indirectly im-pact on the next generation’s oppor-tunity to educate itself.The cabinet may reject the claim,

but Tuesday’s 6 billion of budgetcuts will do little to stimulate theeconomy and bring us back to recov-ery.Instead — according to representa-

tive groups for those in school, col-lege and just starting out in theirsearch for work — it risks discour-aging the future of Ireland from con-tinuing their education, and couldpressure them to leave their home-land altogether.The most pressing issues can be

seen in education.As a result of budget 2011, a total

of 150 planned teacher appointmentsare to be deferred and a reduction ofup to 1,200 posts will take place fromnext September, saving 24 millionin salaries, rising to 98 million by2014.School support services for pupils

from the Traveller community andthose with language needs will alsobe cut, as will those for DEISschools.The number of grants offered to

secondary schools and VECs will bereduced by 5%, and college registra-tion fees will rise to 2,000.The Association of Secondary

Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said thebudget plans amount to saving theeconomy money now by “storing upproblems for the future” — both forthe country’s education system andsociety in general.“While we note that the general

pupil-teacher ratio remains un-changed, second-level schools arenow at breaking point as a result ofprevious cuts to education,” warnedthe union’s general secretary PatKing. “Schools are reporting seriousconcerns about student welfare dueto larger classes and less pastoralcare support and staff.

HE Government has said it hasprotected frontline educationservices in Tuesday’s budget but arange of other cuts and highereducation costs will almost certainly

make it far more difficult to achieve thesmart economy we all aspire to.The government’s budget measures came on

the same day that the OECD, an internationaleconomic organisation, found that the drop inthe reading ability of Irish 15-year-olds wasbigger than in more than 30 developed countriesin the past decade.While this meant reading ability remained near

the average for the OECD region it could not beignored that previous reports have shown we arewell below the average in maths achievement.As the body representing second level

principals has said: It is simply not good enoughto be average.While reasonable question marks do hang over

the rate of decline reported by the OECD the factis that enough evidence exists for continued andwarranted concern.Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has underlined her

commitment to improving outcomes byreforming teacher training and addressing someof the subject overload faced by primary andsecond level pupils.However, she and her government has quickly

returned to sharpening the axe on a range ofeducation services.These include measures that will make it

harder for all but the children of high-earningfamilies to go to college, including a further 4%cut to grant rates and an increase in the studentcontribution by one-third to 2,000 a year.The extension of the distance from college thatstudents must live to get a higher grant ratewill also lead to hardship for thousands of

families.The budget will also do little to address the

horrible statistic which sees one in five secondarystudents leave school without their leaving cert.Further cuts are planned to resources aimed atimproving this situation.The planned increase in educational

psychologists to help assess those with specialneeds has also been deferred. Supports for lesswell-off students and those more likely toperform poorly at school or to attend college alsoface further deterioration.The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

will have 200 fewer posts and a 5% cut infunding, 125 fewer teachers will be allocated tohelp students whose first language is not Englishand 47 teachers helping disadvantaged ruralschools are being axed.The cost of getting to school, particularly in

rural areas, is also set to rise by 50 to 350 ayear for every second level childtravelling on school busesand primary pupils will haveto pay 50 a year for thefirst time.The frontline may have

avoided the axe but the lesswell-off may feel they havebeen sent to thetrenches.

■ Niall MurrayEducation

Correspondent

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Frontline servicessaved but othercuts will bite

Youth can driveour recovery, ifgiven the chance

The cuts in education andyouth support could causeIreland long-term problemsincluding emigration, aworkforce less attractive toinvestors and social unrest.

Time togive youtha chance

Cutbacks ineducation andyouth support

spending aredamaging the

life chances ofa generation,

writesFiachra

Ó Cionnaith

“In addition, the budget furthercompromises the future life chancesof vulnerable young people includ-ing young Traveller students, inter-national/newcomer students, andstudents of the Leaving CertificateVocational Programme.

“Schools and teachers workingwith these pupils will lose spe-cialised teaching staff and many ofthese students will leave school ear-ly,” he insisted.Outside of the education system,

the National Youth Council of Ire-land (NYCI) is equally concernedabout what impact the austeritymeasures outlined by Finance Min-ister Brian Lenihan will have onemployment opportunities for the83,000 young people currently out ofwork in Ireland and those followingthem over the coming years.“We are concerned about the an-

nouncement of 5,000 places in theskills development and internshipprogramme which is dependent onprivate sector employers who, todate, have been slow to take onyoung people on work experienceprogrammes,” said James Doorley,assistant director of the NYCI.“Young people and youth services

have taken big hits in previous bud-gets and this one is no different.There is little in the way of real in-vestment in job creation and insteadall that is offered are cuts to youthservices and supports that mightkeep young people in education ortraining.“This budget provides no stimulus

for young people. In fact, it will onlyaid a further exodus,” he added.Mr Doorley said the cuts to FÁS

course members supports will alsoact as a further disincentive to driveyoung people — especially those onlow incomes — out of the educationand training system and into eitherpoverty or emigration.However, he continued that a sepa-

rate issue of greater concern is theintroduction of the Universal SocialCharge on all incomes, even those

for young people “earning very lit-tle”. This system is intended to re-place the health and income levies.

But concern has been raised overits impact on the “salaried poor”,many of whom are young people.Under this new scheme, someone

on 25,500 or less will see their pre-vious health and income levies ex-pense almost double to more than a1,000.“The further cut of 6 to the al-

ready very low 150 that young job-seekers aged 22 to 24 receive will on-ly compound the difficulty youngpeople are having making endsmeet,” continued the NYCI official.Since the budget’s publication,

Government officials have been atpains to emphasise the positivesand stress that any short-term diffi-culties are in the interests of savingthe country.For those representing the youth

of Ireland, however, the bottom lineis this: Teenagers today may verywell go on to college, receive qualifi-cations which will open doors tospecialised jobs which will in turnentitle them to higher salaries.But the hurdles put in the way of

their way by budget 2011, regardlessof what is said, will at best discour-age them from doing so, at worstblock them altogether.For young people already in em-

ployment or in the market for workbut on low salaries, there is no realincentive to continue at thecoal-face.Instead, they are effectively being

asked to pay more than their shareor consider leaving to take advan-tage of better opportunities abroad.These scenarios do not add up to a

knowledge economy. They add up toa growing crisis.

A generation counts the cost of cuts

by Fiachra Ó [email protected]

■ Third level fees are set to rise to2,000 for students, many of

whom will be unable to pay or willbe put off from continuing theirstudies as a result of the rate.The second and third child of afamily whose first child went tothird level will be charged a1,500 registration fee instead of

the 2,000 sum■ Primary school pupils will be

charged 50 to travel on theschool bus from next autumn.The unprecedented move is partof a 4.5 million school transportsavings package. While theprimary rate will be limited to110 per family, secondary school

students will face a 350 charge— up 50

■ Third level students will also haveto pay more depending on how farthey have to travel. The distancethese students must live fromtheir college or university toreceive higher grant payments hasdoubled from from 15 to 28 miles

■ Education Minister Mary Coughlanis cutting 22 million next yearfrom student support, rising to51 million a year by 2014

■ This will cause a 22 million cut inthe student support scheme, risingto 51 million by 2014. Thisincludes a 4% drop (a cut of 8million) in student support grants,changes to transport grants andmature student support payments

■ The jobseekers allowance for the22- to 24-year-olds will be cutfrom 156 to 150.Approximately 83,000 youngpeople are currently unemployed

■ The new Universal Social Charge,which replaces the income andhealth levies, means people withincomes of 25,500, many ofwhom are young people, will behit by taxes of more than 1,000.This is almost double the previousincome and health levies charge

■ There will be a 5% cut in fundinggrants to schools and VECssupporting adult literacy,community education, schoolcompletion programmes and theYouthreach group

■ The teacher-pupil ratio will be cutby 24 million (rising to 98 millionby 2014) resulting in 150 extraposts being deferred

■ Support for Traveller pupils, thosein need of language support, andservices for DEIS schools will becut


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HE VAST ma-jority of un-der-25s livingin Irelandare “active-ly consider-ing” emi-gration and

do not believe theyhave any real future in their

own country.Two separate polls commissioned

by the Irish Examiner have under-lined a series of vital changes youngpeople are demanding to see imple-mented if they are to remain in thiscountry.An irishexaminer.com online poll

conducted in late November and ear-ly December shows the country’syouth are seeking root and branchreform of the entire political, socialwelfare and pensions systems.However, in the under-25s catego-

ry, the survey shows the vast major-ity of respondents also believe thosecurrently in power will fail to makethese changes, leaving them with nooption but to leave their homeland.According to the findings, 84.8% of

the U-25’s surveyed do not trust thisGovernment to make the right deci-sions in the budget.A further 86.6% know someone

who has emigrated since the eco-nomic crisis began two years ago,while 64.2% are “actively consider-ing” emigration themselves.A worrying two out of every three

respondents (66.2%) also said young

W

UCC and CIT studentsprotest in Cork overproposed changes in feesthat they claim will leavemany unable to considerthird-level. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Most under-25sfear they haveno future here

Young peoplefeel they have no

option but toemigrate and

have little faiththat things willchange, writes

FiachraÓ Cionnaith

people “do not have any real futurein Ireland”, despite the promisedchanges by various political parties.This is partially because of the be-

lief that they will never be able toown a property in their homeland(60.6%) and that if third-level educa-tion registration fees are increasedthey will not pursue their studies(60.6%) — despite 86.2% stating thatuniversity is “a sound investment...and worth the price”.Many of these respondents who

believe they will have to leave thecountry to achieve their goals have,however, also called for majorchanges in the daily lives of individ-uals who will stay in Ireland.These changes include means test-

ing child benefit payments (79.1%),cutting dole payments (66.2%) andmeans testing the state pension(64.2%).Slashing the salaries and expenses

of public servants (69.7%), signifi-cantly increasing taxes for those on45,000 or more (62.7%), and increas-ing corporation tax (69.1%) have al-so been suggested.In addition, a massive 83.6% of re-

spondents under the age of 25 — onein 10 of whom are unemployed andhalf of whom are students — believepeople out of work for six months ormore should be made to do volun-teer work if they are to keep receiv-ing state support.When asked which areas of the

budget should be cut, the most popu-lar choices from the group wereoverseas aid (50.7%), sport (35.8%),

the arts (29.9%) and help for the un-employed (23.9%).A separate national budget survey

for the Irish Examiner conducted byMillwardBrown Lansdowne inNovember highlights similar issues.

In the 18-24-year-old age group, thenumber of people raising concernsover their personal financial prob-lems has risen from 18% in Septem-ber 2008 to 50% last month.A total of 62% also feel worse off

compared with 27% two years ago.Just over one in four (29%) have

been made redundant, 42% haveseen their working hours reduced,28% have taken a pay freeze and58% have suffered a pay cut.

NO60.6%

YES39.4%

Registration fees will stop mepursuing a university education

■ The revolution will not be televised ...

NO66.2%

YES33.8%

Do young people have any realfuture in Ireland?

NO13.4%

YES86.6%

Do you know somebody that hasemigrated in the last two years?

NO35.8%

YES64.2%

Are you actively consideringemigration?

DISAGREE39.4%

AGREE60.6%

I don’t think I will ever be able toafford to buy a property in Ireland

DISAGREE13.8%

AGREE86.2%

A university education is asound investment in your future

and worth the price

Like all poor hosts, you won’tbe sticking around toclean up the mess. No moreGalway shindigs, no moreforeign junkets. But unlikethe rest of us, you won’t beleft feeling the effects of theworst national hangoverin history, ministerialpensions being quitea potent “cure”

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DearTaoiseach ...

Thanks to all those wholeft their comment atirishexaminer.com

The politicians of the futureand their message toAn Taoiseach ...

Dear Taoiseach,The party is over. Fianna Fáil’s 13-year sessionhas come to an end, and like all poor hosts, youwon’t be sticking around to clean up the mess. Nomore Galway shindigs, no more foreign junkets.But unlike the rest of us, you will not be left feelingthe effects of the worst national hangover inhistory, ministerial pensions being quite a potent“cure”. So I ask of you, to please take a momentto think of the rest of us, who never got aninvitation to the party, but must nonetheless cleanup the mess.John Kent, 24, Co Sligo

Dear Taoiseach,The facts are that you have deprived us of a freeeducation, put us in a position where we will beunemployed upon graduation and left ourgeneration to clean up your mess. Mostimportantly you are leaving us with no choice butto flee the country we have called home. I will besure to send you a postcard from wherever I endup…Kathryn Doyle, 18, Bettystown, Co Meath

Dear TaoiseachThe new terminal at Dublin airport opened recentlyto much celebration. This must be pleasing to youand your government. 600m has been spent onthis project. Considering the turmoil this nation isexperiencing, perhaps the money could have beenspent elsewhere. Perhaps in education? Todaythousands of third-level students look to anuncertain future, unable to put themselves throughcollege, and in the footsteps of thousands beforethem, will leave in search of a brighter future. Atleast they will see this futuristic and exciting newterminal before they depart our once great nation.Eoin Scanlon, 18, Ballyduff Upper, Co Waterford

Maybe we needa new republic — a secondrepublic — to take thiscountry back from the brink

The only questionthat remains forme now — is itFine Gael ... or Oz?

T HIS is the country I have inherited. Left in awill from by a dying breed of politician thattried to squander everything on its death

bed before leaving the estate to its foreign mistress.I was brought up as a Celtic Tiger child — born into

relative privilege to west of Ireland parents who hadimmigrated during economic troubles at the age of16 on a ship to England, only to return in bettertimes. Not a lot seems to have changed, except that Iwill be emigrating on a plane.From a family of seven with a rural agricultural

background, I am a benefactor of Europe and likemany of my generation I am in third level educationin order to secure a job that I love.

I never knew hard times — at least not to theextent my parents did. I’ve never had reason tocomplain. Every one of my aunts and uncles hademigrated from this country by my age — somewould never live here again and some would returnwhen things improved. In days without Facebook andemail, families were torn apart, divided by the Atlanticand Irish Sea.Today I see friends flinging themselves all over the

world in a desperate search for work. I used to alwayssay I wanted to travel after I finished college. I didn’trealise I wouldn’t have no choice. We are told 40,000of us are expected to leave in the next four years —many of my friends have already left.Facing four years of cuts and economic turmoil isn’t

a prospect many people relish, so it is not surprisingthat rather than stay for the show, we are leaving inlarge numbers.When I started my degree it was the height of the

boom, with prospects of employment everywhere. Iworked as an unskilled labourer on building sitesduring the summer before college. A year later I wentback to find half my old work mates gone and therewas no summer job for me.I voted yes to Lisbon; I welcomed the euro and my

passport says I am a citizen of Europe. ‘The troubles’of my era is not the loss of six counties it is the lossof our monetary sovereignty. My parents often sayhow fortunate my brother, my sisters and I were tohave the opportunities afforded to us, but I am leftwondering if my country holds a future for me.It is said that we need political reform but do we

really expect politicians to instigate reform in asystem they have thrived in for so many years. Maybewe need a new republic — a second republic — totake this country from the brink.I’m lucky though, I can leave before the water line

gets too high. At least now with anelection to be called in the NewYear, I will have a choice. Theonly real question is if I willpick Fine Gael... or Australia.

■ Rowan Gallagher, 21,is a journalism studentat University ofLimerick who writesregularly forthe Mayo News.

>> Poll conducted on www.irishexaminer.com


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AM AT ForeignMinister MicheálMartin’s alma mater,Coláiste Chríost Rí, inCork city, book-endedby the Government’sfour-year plan and the

imminent budget, aclassroom full of junior certificate

pupils are discussing the realities ofthe deepening economic crisis.They may just be 14 and 15 years

old, been more celtic kittens thanCeltic Tigers at the height of theboom, and not yet be members of theworkforce, but they have as much —if not more — right than anyone tospeak about what is happening toour economy.Their generation, more than any

other, will face the pressure ofpaying off the massive debtcurrently being placed on Irishpeoples’ shoulders.Equally, their generation risks

being scattered across the globe inthe search for work over the decadeto come.Yet, their generation is the only

one not being given a voice in thenational debate on all our futures.“I don’t think I’ll stay in the

country, there’s no real jobs here,”says Brandon Malone, one of anumber of the group who areconsidering emigrating when theyleave school.“I’m probably going to go to

America or Germany, or evenJapan, where the jobs are. I want towork in IT, and all that, andAmerica — mainly California — iswhere it’s all happening. It’s nothere,” he says.In the past, that comment from a

teenager could have been passed offas youthful exuberance, but it is justas much the product of the surgingunemployment rates that evenschoolchildren are surrounded byevery day.Last year, a relative of Cathal

O’Mahony’s saw his 18-year-longcareer at a major multi-nationalcompany based here suddenly cutshort after the firm relocated toanother country.In his mid-40s, the man has since

moved to Russia to find equivalent

Dear Taoiseach,You must be feeling very unpopular. It must betough, knowing the nation and perhaps your ownparty have lost any shred of respect they once hadfor you. I don’t pity you. But I would like to thankyou. Thank you for teaching us not to take ourfutures for granted; for destroying our childishnaivety; and for giving our generation, the youth ofthis country, the task of restoring our country to itsformer glory. Ireland’s youth may have little faith inyou or Fianna Fáil. But we’re up for the challenge ofrebuilding this devastated and disillusioned nation,and make it a country to be proud to be a part of.Aisling Hussey, 20, Tralee, Co Kerry

Dear Taoiseach,Thanks very much for all the incompetence andselling out of any possibility I have of returning tomy home land. I am an economic migrant doomedto a life living away from my family and friends. Myparents are old and I cannot afford to live in Irelandto look after them. I cannot find work and am notentitled to carers allowance as I am out of the EUzone for over two years. I will never forget this andwill make it my life’s work to undermine your party.Jonnie Graham, 24, Melbourne, Australia

Dear Taoiseach,I would like to know why you and your colleaguesare more concerned with making the oppositionparties look more foolish than you, when you allshould focus on what’s best for everyone. Would itnot be better to answer the public’s questionsopenly and directly? If you are the country’s leaderand an exemplary politician, then I may have torethink my career choice in politics.George Pardoe, 20, Ardfert, Co Kerry

Dear Taoiseach,Why should we be the ones to pay when the statethis country could not possibly be our fault. Wherewill the country be in 10 years when all ourgeneration has emigrated.Patricia O’Driscoll, 23, Cork

Dear Mr Cowen,Congratulations. You will go down in history forbeing the face of an incompetent party thatdestroyed Ireland. I have been left with no choicebut to emigrate. Step down as Taoiseach, you arean embarrassment to this country.Eleanor Crabb, 23, Waterford

Dear Taoiseach,The banks, Bertie, Charlie, and yourself, have causedall of this. I hope and pray that the people ofIreland, will help finish your party.The people ofIreland will also not stop until people who causedthis are jailed.John Feeley, 25, Co Clare

Dear Taoiseach,Don’t target front line staff such as teachers andmedical staff. All others are fair game, however, andreducing civil servant’s pay should be a priority.Mark, 17, Waterford

Dear Taoiseach,The fact that our only option is to emigrate is acomplete joke. We have been totally let down bythe Government that brought this upon us.Sinead Lucey, 23, Cork

IIreland’s youth may havelittle faith in you or FiannaFáil. But we're up for thechallenge of rebuilding thisdevastated and disillusionednation, and make it a countryto be proud to be a part of

Dear Taoiseach,Dark times consume Ireland and the Irish people.Today our nation holds its breath, helpless anduncertain for the future and integrity of our proudcountry. The walls of this democratic republican statehave been rocked. As the foundations begin tocrumble, shadows of shame and anger loom in theminds of those left to defend their right for aprosperous future in their country. Those peoplehave filled their hearts with hatred.Corruption and nepotism has fuelled greed andignorance within this country, with great cost toIreland’s political reputation and its people’s trust ina democratic state. May this Government’sreputation live on forever, for all that is wrong.Kevin F Rowley, 21, Swinford, Mayo

Dear TaoiseachThese bank bailouts are immoral, unfair anddownright unjust. How can you ask the ordinarycitizens of this country to pay for the corruption ofbankers, developers, builders and politicians? Whatdid we do to deserve this? You and yourgovernment have not looked after our interests andnow we are destined for ruin.Thanks a million or should I say thanks a 100+billion. Our society needs to be overhauled from thetop down. Is it fair that the top professions,politicians etc still earn multiples of 100,000 whileinnocent ordinary people suffer?What is here for our age group? We are destined toyears of paying for your friends and cronies. Whathappened to democracy when an elite minority areallowed to escape unpunished, having destroyed ourcountry and our futures? Was it for this that the menof 1916 gave their lives? Shame on you and yourparty and shame on the idiot greens who supportedyou.Karla Stack, 13, Dublin

Thanks a million or should Isay thanks a 100+ billion.Our society needs to beoverhauled from the topdown. Is it fair that the topprofessions, politicians etc.,still earn multiples of100,000 of euros while

innocent ordinary peoplesuffer? We are destined toyears of paying for yourfriends and cronies ...

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Taoiseach ...

Thanks to all those wholeft a comment fro A|n

Taoiseach atirishexaminer.com

Fiachra Ó Cionnaithspeaking to students atColáiste Chríost Rí, who,even in their teens, areattuned to the economy.

Hardlessonsto learn

The boys ofColáiste Chríost

Rí are all tooaware of the

harsh economicrealities that face

them aftergraduation, says

FiachraÓ Cionnaith

work, sending money back home tohis family, who are still based inCork.Another pupil says his father has

been working “all hours of the nightand on his days off” becauseredundancies in his office mean he

now has to cover the work of hisformer colleagues.“It’s been really tough for him. He

can’t take the time off he wants,because he has to get through thework of the people who’ve been letgo,” his son says.A third pupil, Eoin Kennedy,

explains how his uncle left for NewZealand at the end of November. Afourth, Daniel James, adds that hiscousin has emigrated to Australia.Adults may think people in school

don’t notice what is happening, ordon’t care, but the reality is not thecase.Modern Ireland is moulding their

own views of the future.With this in mind, young peoples’

opinions on politicians fighting overthe best way to help Ireland recoveris worth hearing.“We’re just being told that we’re

going to get out of it andeverything’s going to be fine, butnobody’s actually expressing theirgenuine opinions. I mean, maybe wewon’t get out of it as quickly as theysay.“A lot of the backbenchers don’t

seem to really do anything. Theyjust seem to be there only to get onthe telly,” says Evan O’Leary.Another pupil adds that the entire

system is based on “a race forpower.”“They just say what they want us

to hear, all of them, just to get wherethey want. All of the other partiesare saying they won’t cut, but they’ll

definitely have to cut somewhere.“They say they’re going to make

everything all right, but they’re notsaying how they’re going to do it,”he says.David Duggan’s view appears to

echo the phrase that anyone whowants to be elected to a politicalposition — and receive theprivileges that come with it —shouldn’t be elected.There are too many benefits given

to those supposedly representing therest of the population, he says,resulting in those agreeing topainful budget cutbacks having no

real sense of the damage they willcause.“They should halve the amount of

ministers and get rid of theministerial cars. If they want to usea car, they should use their own,” hesays.“I was listening to the radio this

morning, and the cars, garda driver,and all that, is nearly 200,000 perminister and even more for theTaoiseach. That’s crazy.“The ministers and TDs aren’t

taking the equal hits.“They’re attacking people on the

minimum wage, instead of those at

the bottom, They’re on hugesalaries and they’re cutting thebottom. It should be cut at thetop,” he says.Surprisingly, some in the class

believe the bail-out from theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF) and the European CentralBank (ECB) will help to resolvethese problems in the Irishpolitical system.Two eyes might spoil the broth,

but the pupils at Choláiste ChríostRí believe a second pair of eyes onIrish affairs — at least for a shorttime — could help cut down oncorruption.“I think the IMF coming in is a

good idea,” says a voice from theback of the room.“When we had the money, we

weren’t able to control it, therewas too much greed and themoney came in too fast. The IMFand EU seem more organised, infairness.”Since the budget details were

announced on Tuesday,discussions have understandablyfocused on how the communitieswill adapt to the immediateconcerns facing them.Few people are asking what

impact these same cuts will haveon the views of the generationwho will be tasked with draggingthe country out of its economicmess. There is more at stake todaythan Ireland’s short-termsurvival.

Coláiste Chríost Rí studentCathal O’Mahony: Last year, a

relative of his had an 18-year-longcareer at a major multi-national

company based in Ireland suddenlycut short after the firm

re-located. In his mid-40s, theman has since moved to

Russia to find the same typeof work — sending moneyhome to his family, who

are still based in Cork.


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OR me the ‘f ’ infuture now standsfor fear. Fear thathas conqueredthe Irish people.Is it right forpeople to live infear of the fu-

ture? I, for one, feel it’stotally unacceptable.

When we think of the word futurewe want to believe in hope for a bet-ter tomorrow and that we are able todo things that have no limits, but,that is something the Irish will haveto keep on dreaming about.I feel that every day we’re told

times are beyond hard, and in therecent news of the IMF taking thingsinto their own hands, things can on-ly get worse and much harder in ournear future.I hear talks every day of how we

are going to fight this recession anddig Ireland out of this monumentalpit of debt, but in my opinion weshould have planned intelligently tocombat this as quickly as possible.We’ve officially been in recession

since October 2008, with elephant inthe room signs before that. And now,it’s nearly 2011. Why has it taken theGovernment so long to make thefour year plan?Is it the fear of the IMF or fear of

losing a bit of salary like the rest ofthe country?I could sit here all day and tell you

how much of a mess were in, or ofhow many jobs were lost, or of howthe Government are sitting idly byjust sucking billions out of ordinarypeople, but really it’s not worth it.I know it will be a tough road and

that the Government have a price topay for their thoughtless actions,maybe by cutting out their fancybusiness cars, but that price seemstoo high to them.However, we now have to suffer in

order for it to get better. Personallythe best aspect of my future was ed-ucation, but now that the studentfees are up for discussion, it upsetsme to think that there may not evenbe a chance of going to college. It en-rages me of how the Governmentcan just simply deny a person theireducation because of their mistakes.It is not fair — education in Irelandis our future.This is obviously not true to the

Government. The young people ofIreland are the future, fact. Is it notreasonable to make life easy for usso we in turn can make a differencein the next generation and havesomeone intelligent and well-educat-ed run our country?I know there are many college stu-

dents out there just completely lost.At a time in life where there aresupposed to be open doors, they’reall shut.Many students now have their

dreams on hold, dreams that couldhelp change their lives. All I’m ask-ing for is for the Government to takeinto consider the younger popula-tion and not to forget about us. Ourvoice is what matters. Listen and itmight make a change.

— Dorina Birsanu, Longford, 16

THE FUTURE OF our country, orshould I say ‘this’ country, as itwould appear that the deeds toIreland will be in the hands ofEurope, is in actual fact not alto-gether hopeless.It is my belief that we are very ca-

pable of coming through these chal-lenging times. However, that’s not tosay we will. Ireland lacks goodleadership.It is time for our Taoiseach and

many of his accomplices to realisethat we the people do not believe theGovernment is capable of leading usthrough this economicemergency whilethey are at thehelm.They should

bow out nowas gracefullyas possiblebeforethings de-plete anyfurther.The Gov-

Dear Taoiseach,I want to thank you. Thank you for making myfuture, along with hundreds and thousands ofothers, a big grey cloud of uncertainty. Whatother 21st century “developed” country makesthird-level education less accessible? That protectsthe rich and exposes the poor? That would lie toits own party about the true state of currentaffairs? People forget the fact that it was YOU thathandled the public finances before you becameTaoiseach, that you could’ve seen this comingsince 2004! What a fail. And you have the cheekto say you have no shame? Your cabinet hasmade Ireland an embarrassment on anInternational level. One positive lesson we canlearn from all this corrupt politics is how NOT torun a country, again,Jamie Moore, Co Waterford, 16

Dear Taoiseach,As a young person I think it is vital that you don’tmake any cutbacks in education, that you investin it. If you want to truly overcome this recessionwe, the younger generation, will be the ones toenact this. It is us who will be the jobseekers andthe workforce in the years to come. Immigrationis looking ever so popular to this generation aswe see all around us unstable jobs andunemployment.The future doesn’t look too bright unfortunately.The most common conversations will be abouttaxes, debt and loans, not life. Do you expect usto stay in this doom and gloom, to pay the taxesto repay the loans? Do you want us growing upseeing the Government as the enemy?Aoife Crotty, Tipperary, 16

Dear Taoiseach,I often feel scared at the thought of not havingthe future I want. I want to be a RadiationTherapist at heart and it is what I want as acareer. But the sad thing is I don’t know if I’ll findemployment after college. Or where I’ll find it. Itannoys me that college fees are on the increase. Ifeel sick at the thought of having to leave thiscountry.The Government need to take a step back andlook at what they have done. Greed took overand as a consequence it left our nation crying forhelp from other countries.Adel Hickey, Donegal, 16.

Dear Taoiseach,I am at a stage in my life where virtually anything ispossible and I can mould my future to whatever Iwant. However, due to the carelessness and greed ofother people, I will now encounter more obstacleson my journey than I had ever anticipated.With rising tuition fees and the increasinguncertainty in the future financial situation of ourcountry, third-level education is beginning to seem amuch less accessible resource, especially to thethousands of families negatively affected by thecurrent economic situation.How many future scientists, prime ministers, doctorsor teachers will we lose to this generation? Howmany young people’s potentials will not be realiseddue to the recklessness and over-indulgence ofpeople they have never even met. It must neverhappen again.Joseph Bradley, Longford, 15

Dear Taoiseach,We have to think about the fact that Ireland has thefifth highest youth suicide rate in Europe and askwhat we plan to do about it?I suggest an external councillor that has noinvolvement with the student’s education to beimplemented in every secondary school in Ireland.This person would be there so that students couldtalk in confidence about their emotional and privateproblems.Forget about the money involved because there hasbeen enough money wasted on unnecessary things,when there are lives being lost to suicide.So I ask you to do the right thing for the Irish youth.Lisa Marie Sheehy, Limerick, 16

Dear Taoiseach,You must realise that the economic situation of ournation has affected each and every Irish citizen indifferent ways.The one thing I ask of you is to make third-leveleducation an urgent and ongoing priority for ournation’s young citizens. An educated workforce is keyto our economic future and must be a serious issuefor our Government in ensuring Ireland is ready tomeet the employment demands of the future tocreate higher levels ofhigh-tech jobs in expanding sectors of our nation’seconomy and ensure our economy’s future is amongthe best in the world.Tom Leahy, Co Dublin, 17

Dear Taoiseach,In these times of hardship we had accepted thatboth money and leadership would be scarce, butnever did we think that our Irish spirit would waneas much as to allow a foreign establishmentcomplete control of our redevelopment.Your actions have the young people of Irelandseriously worried about what sort of future we havein our own country.I would like to remind you of a passage from ourvery own proclamation: “We declare the right of thepeople of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and tothe unfettered control of Irish destinies, to besovereign and indefeasible.”Today, it seems, we should all be mourning the lossof the Irish Republic as a sovereign independentstate.Tiarnán Fallon, Co Wicklow, 17

F The Fin futurenow standsfor fear

I hold Cowen andhis band of bumblingmisfits personallyresponsible for thecrisis we now face ...The stupidity andgreed of Irishpoliticians has leadthis country into aneconomic hole

‘

’Padraig Duffy finds himself revertingto the stereotypical image he had ofpoliticians. Picture: Barry Cronin

Niamh Duggan realises that she canno longer take access to educationand employment for granted.

Stupidity and greedof our politicianshas put us in a hole

Suddenly our futureis no longer withinour control

We can get throughthese difficult times

Four membersof Ireland’s

youthparliament,

Dáil na nÓg,reflect on our

currenteconomicsituation

AS A CHILD, one cannot help but as-certain a stereotypical image ofpoliticians. Overweight, carrying abriefcase bursting at its seams,packed with money, and wearing amischievous grin. And one cannothelp but begin to see politicians as adevious breed.However, as you begin to grow,

mature and actually read the news-papers instead of just looking at thecaricatures, one begins to under-stand that politicians are in fact,honest caring individuals that as-sume their responsibilities in thehope and desire of making a positivedifference in people’s lives.However, it is as the events of the

recent past have unfolded that I findmyself returning to my original im-pression of politicians.I do not blame the Irish govern-

ment for all of the world’s problems.I do, however, hold Brian Cowen andhis band of bumbling misfits person-ally responsible for the crisis wenow face here at home in Ireland.The stupidity and greed of Irish

politicians has led this country intoan economic hole, and a pretty bigone at that.Although it is their response to

this crisis that worries me the most.Specifically, the introduction ofthird level fees.In the words of Brian Cowen,

“Hope for the future”. As in, I hopethis all blows over soon? Or, hope fora future abroad? When challengedwith our country’s future both finan-cially and in general the main re-sponse has been that it is up to us,the youth. That our imaginations,diligence, innovation and creativityare what will rebuild this countrylong after Cowen and company hasgone. However, how are we supposedto achieve this astronomical taskwithout a higher education? Therewas uproar when the reintroductionof fees was speculated about. Now,not even a year later, registrationfees are being increased. Surely in-vesting in education is investing inthe future of the country.In the hard times our government

has taken from children, old agepensioners, education, the healthsystem and the poor. This is a dis-grace. The country is moving back-wards, and fast.

— Padraig Duffy, Dundalk, 17

WHEN I WAS younger I was toldthat my future would be bright and,for years, there was never a doubt inmy mind that it would be. Until now.It is such a bizarre feeling to know

that you don’t really control howyour life will pan out. The decisionof whether I go to college is nolonger determined by how manypoints I get in my Leaving Certifi-cate, but by how much of the steepregistration fee I can pay. Whether Imove out of my parents’ house afterschool is now determined by the lot-tery that job searching has become.So many things that I took for grant-ed in previous years now seem like afar-off dream.I am confident that with the right

leadership this country will risefrom its current situation. Unfortu-nately, I don’t think that our currentgovernment are the leaders we arelooking for. What this country needsis someone who is willing to makecuts across the board and who is notafraid to take from those who arewealthy and powerful. However, atthe moment we’re not seeing that.In the years to come, I hope that

we see the power shift into more ca-pable hands. Our bailout from theIMF is an opportunity to put thiscountry back on track, and while thepath to recovery will be long and ar-duous, we have the tools necessaryto achieve stability. We have a popu-lation who are well educated, hard-working and willing for change. Allof these are fundamental to our na-tion’s revival.As a young person, I would like to

live in a country where we can stillbelieve that our future will bebright. I believe that one day youngpeople will not have to worry abouttheir freedom and opportunities andthat our country will be restored toa state of equilibrium to achievethis.

— Niamh Duggan, Cork, 15

ernment has failed to prepare forthis crisis and therefore has pre-pared to fail.The Government’s solution to our

current predicament appears to beto borrow as much money aspossible.This is nonsense. Sure, it will

keep us afloat for the next fouryears by which time it won’t matterto them as they will undoubtedly nolonger be in office, and whose prob-lem will it be?Who will be left to pay back all

these outstanding loans with consid-erable interest?That would be my generation’s

cue to step in. I can guarantee that Iand many of my peers will not standfor such injustice. I don’t see any ofour generation with top bankingjobs or ministerial positions, yetwe’re expected to pay for the mis-takes of our predecessors for thebest part of our lives. Not a hope.It’s high time the banks and Gov-

ernment stopped looking to othersto bail them out. Let them tightentheir belts and make do with what-ever resources they have at theirdisposal, such as all the young grad-uates from all over Ireland who arebeing given no alternative but toemigrate as they are being ignoredand insufficiently utilised.Undoubtedly people will argue

that the banking system and theGovernment will likely collapse.Well so be it. We, the youth of todayhave the gifts of knowledge and de-termination on our side — we willrebuild both. It would be by nomeans a simple task to undertake,but after spending a few years re-building the Government and

banking system from scratchwe would be free to wipethe slate clean and startafresh, as opposed tostruggling along fordecades to come withmounting debtshanging over ourheads.

— Leo Cauneen,Roscommon, 18

Dorina Birsanufeels it is unfairthat her generationwill have to sufferbecause of theGovernment’smistakes.

Picture: Willie Farrell

Dáil na nÓg is the annual national parliamentfor young people aged 12-18 years. The Officeof the Minister for Children and YouthAffairs (OMCYA) is responsible for fundingand overseeing the event, which is hostedannually by the Minister for Children andYouth Affairs. Delegates are elected to Dáilna nÓg by the 34 Comhairle na nÓg aroundthe country. Successive independentevaluations note Dáil na nÓg has gone fromstrength to strength, with more challengingand contentious debate each year.

The Irish Examiner would like to thankDáil na nÓg members for their submissions

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■ Dáil na nÓg

In these times of hardshipwe had accepted that bothmoney and leadershipwould be scarce, but neverdid we think that our Irishspirit would wane as much

People forget the fact itwas YOU that handled thepublic finances before youbecame Taoiseach, that youcould’ve seen this comingsince 2004! What a fail.

■ Dáil na nÓg


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T’S A CRISPTuesday morningand I am sittingin the receptionof St Aloysius’College, in Car-rigtwohill, chatting

with one of theschool’s Leaving Cer-

tificate pupils, a cheerful,brown-haired teenager named ZoeFannon.Any passersby would have been

forgiven for thinking we were talk-ing about our weekend plans — howoften would you connect mention ofthe word ‘party’, by a 17-year-old,with politics, and not her plans tocelebrate?Maybe it is because of the lack of

faith in young people’s ability totake an interest in, and get riled upover, the abysmal economic state ofaffairs we are in that formed part ofthe problem in the first place.“The party system is flawed—

none of the parties can work togeth-er and agree on one budget, for in-stance. I also think it’s time that welooked to the backbenchers for anew Taoiseach, and it should be upto the entire Dáil to vote the bestleader for the country,” Zoe said.I had come to the all-girls sec-

ondary school with a touch of appre-hension about my mission to gatherthe opinions of Ireland’s youth onour battered economy, the budgetand their plans for the future, but,already, that was beginning to fade,after my brief, but encouraging con-versation with the first young lady Ihad met.And, luckily, that trend continued.In a room packed with 30-odd 17-

and 18-year-olds, the mood was sur-prisingly enthusiastic — this was abunch of students tired of hearingthe same old views on how theircountry is, and should be, run andthey were eager to give some opin-ions of their own.One young pupil, who was happy

to get the ball rolling, was18-year-old Avril McCarthy.“The economy has been complete-

ly sabotaged. People are being forcedto emigrate, there is huge debt builtup and we will be paying back theinterest for life,” she said bluntly.So who exactly do these passionate

young people blame for the currentsituation?“The political corruption is

widespread — it’s not just FiannaFáil,” said another girl, not afraid tomince her words, 17-year-old SusanRea, who said she was planning tostudy medicine in college.“It’s no wonder people have be-

come so disillusioned, there is a gen-eral bad feeling, because the prob-lems were addressed too late.“Talk about the IMF and the

bailout was bounced around for afew weeks, and the Taoiseach neveronce addressed his people, its a dis-grace,” said Susan.“We need to totally reform the po-

litical system. The population is to-tally over-represented, we need tocut the amount of TDs in half and

Young,

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Dear Taoiseach,During the Celtic Tiger era I was in education so Ihad no part to play in the downfall of this country.My dream was to work in politics or banking but Inow know I may never get that opportunity. It is adisgrace that no one has been sent to jail. If thatwere my parents — normal hardworking people,they would be in jail already. Just because thosepeople have connections doesn’t mean they canescape the law. And how do they still have assets?They should all belong to the State. I plan on leavingthis country next year, maybe for good. I neverwanted it to come to that but I do not want to payfor something I didn’t cause. Think of the youngpeople — our future is in your hands.Kate, 23, Dublin

Dear Taoiseach,Young people didn’t cause this. The cowards inGovernment want us to emigrate, to stay silent, tonot vote, to put up and shut up. I’m not taking it. I’mstaying, I’m going to tough it out and I’m going tomake my mark. We all need to do our bit, not justgive out but to start cleaning up this mess andputting in place a real nation. The first part of thisjob is getting rid of the terrible, terrible politiciansout there and for people to please stop, for the loveof Ireland, voting Fianna Fáil.Rory, 21, Cavan

Dear Taoiseach,Seriously, why are you destroying my life? Do youthink its right for a 23-year-old woman to be forcedout of her own country because of the mistakes thatyou made? I bet your children aren’t forced to leavethe country for work or for a decent wage?Maeve, 23, Cork

Dear Taoiseach,My parents went though the 1980’s, hard times, andnow it looks like our generation will go though itagain but 10 times worse ... immigration and all.Celtic Tiger, what a farce.S Hopkins, 24, Cork

Dear Taoiseach,You and your peers in Fianna Fáil have broughtabout the collapse of this country.The result of your Government’s decisions have putIreland indisputably in one of its worst positions inthe history of the State. We have now been turnedinto a laughing stock in Europe from our formerCeltic Tiger prosperity and we are now the pawn ofthe IMF in this economic game of chess.Once again the people at the bottom foot the bill.The fact that students, just out of college, areflooding out of this country in droves for work andthere is no initiative to create high value jobs whichthe country would benefit from is a sick joke. Wehave yet to see a prosecution to be taken againstany of the people who have caused this situation,which is outrageous and an internationalembarrassment.Derek O’Toole, Cork, 21

Dear Taoiseach,Please stop ruining our country to protect yourfriends from the Galway tent... You were Minister forFinance, you should have seen this coming, nowplease stop the nonsense by resigning. Give thepeople their say... You have no mandate. You werenot elected as Taoiseach by the Irish people.Joanne Quirke, 20, Cork

Dear Taoiseach,After spending the last three years in college,trying to get a degree for myself, I have nowcome to the realisation there is nothing here forme.The amount of my fellow future graduates thathave decided to leave in frightening. All becauseof the bankers and the corrupt men and womenwho do not care about people like myself. I amleaving this country along with many othersbecause we fell we should not have to pay for themistakes of others. I would love to raise mychildren in this country and give them theamazing childhood I had but I have come torealise that is not going to happen. You have torealise that we are the countries future and wewill not be here for much longer if this continues.Your chance has passed. Please don’t ruin oursalso...Jennifer Buckley, 20, Cobh, Co. Cork

Dear Taoiseach,Take yourself and your rotten coalition and leaveDail Eireann now. Damn you to hell and back. I’mforced to emigrate while you lot retire with a fatpension. I just hope you don’t meet me in thestreets before I leave ....Seamus Ó Raghallaigh, 20, Baile Átha Clíath

Dear Taoiseach,Ireland still has a chance to become great againand I believe along with a great number ofpeople that the key lies with the youth. If weforget about them Ireland in the future will becompared with Eastern European countries in inthe 80s. I urge you to re-think the universitycharges and other decisions that will penaliseyoung people and ruin the country in the longterm.Niall Crowley, 15, Cork

Dear Taoiseach,As a former minister for finance you must take alot of the blame for the mess that the countryis in.I now see from your four-year plan that not alonehave you saddled young people with enormousdebt but you have also cut the minimum wage,increased college fees and cut student grants.Is it your intention to drive all young people outof the country?No Fianna Fáil member will be getting my vote.Lynn O’Donovan, 19, Cork

Dear Taoiseach,In this time of austerity your politicians and toppublic servants should be hit with a further 30%cut considering your extremely poorperformances over the past five years.All expenses in the public sector should bestopped as should all ministerial cars.All I can see from the four-year plan is thatmiddle-to-low-income-earners are being asked totake the most pain.Sean McKevitt, 33, Dundalk.

I& bleakgifted

While one groupcannot be taken asan indication of theviews of the entireteenage populationof Ireland, clearly, thefinal year class at StAloysius were muchmore clued in thanmost people giveteenagers credit for’

‘

The young areoften unheard,

but the girls of StAloysius College

are outspokenand articulate onthe state of their

nation, saysKerrie

Kennedyput pressure on them to make moreof an effort and move away from em-phasis on mending potholes to get

votes, for example,” said a voicefrom the back of the room,17-year-old Sinead Keane.“These are our national represen-

tatives, they should be dealing withserious issues. There was consider-able money spent on them, theyshould be suffering now, too,”Sinead said.This was clearly something to

which everyone — including thosewho seemed slightly disinterested —could relate, as several girls beganto nod their heads in agreementwith Sinead’s last comment.Moving on from the broad to the

more specific, I asked the girls whatthey felt about Ireland needing abailout, which clearly struck anerve, particularly with the few whowere eager to air their views.“It’s a disgrace, we have to take

loans from abroad to pay for Angloand for their stupidity,” said Avril.“We have to pay for Anglo,” said

Sinead.“It’s all well to say ‘stop support-

ing banks’ but we can’t, we have tohave an economy. What we need todo is cut the highest earners. Themiddle earners, such as teachers,are suffering the most. I think thepeople at the bottom nearly have iteasier than people in the middle,”she said.“But the bottom level standard of

living didn’t raise during the boom,”said Susan indignantly.At this stage, any shyness had

completely vanished. You could seeseveral of the girls were anxious tosay their piece on what was clearly asensitive issue.I had begun to think there was a

slight irony in the fact the girls withthe strongest views on political re-form were seated on my left, when a

voice to my right piped up.“Everyone here has been on a for-

eign holiday, there are plenty of peo-ple here whose families have twohouses, it’s a measure of a good soci-ety to look after the vulnerable,”said 18-year-old Orla Kelleher.“But we can’t keep cutting back on

the middle sector,” said Sinead.“There are so many people not

paying taxes and are just gettingbenefits, the tests for social welfareneed to be a lot stricter, we need tofind out who is sponging, who ismaking fraudulent claims,” she said.Seeing that this could turn into a

long and fairly heated debate thatwould most likely have stretched be-yond the one-hour class, I asked whowas thinking of leaving the countryafter their exams.Not one person failed to raise their

arm.“It’s a good opportunity to travel,

there is simply no money in thecountry, so why not,” said Susan.However, one of the girls, Orla,

said that while she wanted to travel,Ireland was inevitably the onlycountry where she could see herselfgrowing old.“We grew up here, by the time we

get out of college I would hopethings might be a little better. I wantto work as an accountant and that

sector still has some jobs, so I don’tthink I could emigrate long term.I’m Irish, this is my home,” she said.Having listened to the group speak

in mainly negative terms, I was sur-prised, and curious, to find thatthere was a positive belief that thesituation would begin to improve inthe near future.Did the group think we, as a

whole, would learn from our mis-takes?Susan, I believe put it best.“There has been a cycle of eco-

nomic boom then bust, nobody hasdied of recession,” she said.So, would anyone like to get into

politics I asked? Silence.“It’s not very attractive, its the

kind of job where its more who youknow,” said Susan, thoughtfully,just as the bell to end class went.While one group cannot be taken

as an indication of the views of theentire teenage population of Ireland,clearly, the final year class at StAloysius were much more clued inthan most people give teenagerscredit for.These are the people who will be

shaping the future of the country,and the level of disillusion with thestate of affairs was obvious, but byno means shocking.If anything, it reaffirmed the be-

lief that many of those with thebrightest young minds, and the en-ergy to drive change and positivereform are, because of the system it-self, too often those with no interestin taking up the positions of leadersand politicians.These girls had started school in

the midst of the Celtic Tiger era,and now, six years later, wereemerging educated and hopeful, but,sadly, with little faith in their abili-ties to secure a positive future liv-ing in Ireland.

From left, Susan Rea, Orla Kelleher,Avril McCarthy, Sinead Keane andCaoimhe Whelan are pessimistic

about Irish politics.Picture: Denis Minihane

Zoe Fannon, 17, says “Ialso think it’s time thatwe looked to thebackbenchers for a newTaoiseach, and it shouldbe up to the entire Dáil tovote the best leader forthe country.”

Picture: Dan Lenihan

Thanks to those wholeft their comment forAn Taoiseach atirishexaminer.com

The first part of this job isgetting rid of the terrible,terrible politicians out thereand for people to pleasestop, for the love of Ireland,voting Fianna Fáil.

Take yourself and yourrotten coalition and leaveDáil Eireann now. Damn youto hell and back. I’m forcedto emigrate while you lotretire with a fat pension.


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The recessionhas led to muchdiscussionabout a new‘lost generation,’fuelled by an ES-RI report thatpredicts 120,000people will leaveIreland by2011/12.In the past 10 years, the Govern-

ment became preoccupied withgreed, which grew into an economicshort-sightedness.The focus of Dublin meant that the

rest of us were left to rot, and, in thelong run, the Government failed tomake the much-anticipated invest-ments now needed for the foreignjobs that Ireland so desperatelyhinges on. Now, graduates are emi-grating and I will be forced to emi-grate after them.Ireland is developing a very harsh

reality for me: one in which there isno growth or jobs stimulus to heralda road to recovery.For more than 40 years, the Gov-

ernment has invested in educationas the key to our economic develop-ment. Educated Irish people, athome, were seen as the key to at-tracting inward investment into Ire-land, which helped make Ireland oneof the fastest growing economies inthe world.This promise is now empty

rhetoric for the future graduate.Education at a Glance 2010, an

OECD report on national educationsystems, shows Ireland’s educationalexpenditure to be the fourth lowestof 31 OECD countries.The OECD Report published on

September 7 last showed that, on av-erage, OECD countries spends 6.2per cent of GDP on education. Ire-land spends 4.7 per cent on educa-tion, a figure that exceeds only threecountries — the Czech Republic,Italy and Slovakia.Our political system contributes to

Ireland’s education problem. A

HE boom has col-lapsed into a bustand has left Ire-land’s talentedyouth wavinggoodbye to their

families, their homeand their future.

If this country is to have a future,we must take the reins and reinventGovernment. Government is imple-menting cutback after cutback inpublic expenditure on my education.Middle-income families are coercedinto paying potentially higher in-come tax, childcare, health care andcollege fees, and, like so many strug-gling families, are ineligible for statesupport.Education is the only outlet for

young people. Middle-class familiesface the grim prospect of not beingable to afford to send their childrento college. We will be left with an un-educated generation from 2011, an el-derly population, and a brain-drainsmart economy. I want a competentgovernment that tells the truth.Fear has turned us against Fianna

Fáil. Fear for our jobs, and, most ofall, fear for our education.No sensible person will demand

the rebirth of the Celtic Tiger. As a2010 graduate, I will accept the hardslog, provided I get leadership, hon-est work and a programme of reformand repair.Each additional day the Minister

for Education, Mary Coughlan, putsIreland’s education on the long fin-ger, more and more highly skilledgraduates leave the country, manyof whom will never return. Her inac-tion is crippling my future, and mypromise of an Ireland with a smarteconomy.The Central Statistics Office re-

ports that 91, 646 people under theage of 25 are unemployed. The Gov-ernment has invested millions in anattempt to create a workforce that isrenowned across the globe for its ex-pertise and innovative capacity.It seems ludicrous to deny me the

opportunity to repay that invest-ment by forcing me to emigrate up-on receiving my master’s qualifica-tion.Ireland has accepted a massive fi-

■ There aren’t enough women in Government.Every time I turn on the telly it’s just men in suitsrabbiting on and on. Women would make surethat families could live. I think the men are onlythinking of business or power in their all-menclub. I want to be an actor and they say Ireland islike a culture centre but even theatres andeverything are going out of business. My friendsand me were thinking that if you can’t get anywork or experience then you can’t get any job atall and we were thinking that we’d just have tostart things ourselves but now two of them aresaying they are going to emigrate. I might go toEngland but I’d really miss my little sister. She’s 10and I look after her when she’s finished school.Emily, Dundalk, 19

■ The next government must ensure we are agreener country. Grants must be given forrenewable resources in households andbusinesses and a lot more effort must be made inproviding recycling facilities. We must also tapinto the massive potential for solar energy.We need more incentives to use bicycles in thiscountry. Lower tax rates on all bicycle productsand services and more bicycle lanes. This wouldalso reduce heart, blood and obesity problems inIreland, costing the country less in the long run.We should also pay our government less. BrianCowen is earning roughly 310,000 for apopulation of 4.1 million people. Barack Obamaearns roughly 279.000 as president of apopulation of 301 million. Are we getting valuefor money from our Taoiseach?Queue the next change.Sinead, Cavan, 25

■ The Government has accepted a loan of 85bnto pay off loans, which the young people ofIreland did not incur, but which we will have topay off. I am unemployed, live with my motherand have no future prospects unless I go abroad.Why should I have to move away from my friendsand family as a result of this Government’scorruption and mismanagement?It seems the Government do not have thecountry’s best interest at heart and I don’t believethey ever did. All Fianna Fáil and their ilk careabout is jobs for the lads. You should all be onminimum wage and have your pensions revoked.Shame on you for causing the collapse of thiscountry, and my future along with it.Róisín Stack, 29, Galway

... if and when I graduateI am outta here for at leastfive years. This country isfull of great talkers but tobe honest that’s not gonna

get us results anymore

Each additionalday the Minister forEducation, MaryCoughlan putsIreland’s educationon the long finger,more and morehighly skilledgraduates leave thecountry, many ofwhom will neverreturn. Her inactionis cripplingmy future ... ’

‘

■ I am student, and if and when I graduate, I amoutta this country for at least five years. This countryis full of great talkers, but, to be honest, that’s notgonna get us results anymore. I’m ashamed to beIrish because we have lost our passion, anger andpower. We are no longer a real nation.James Mullally, Meath, 20

■ What has been spoken will hurt. What has beendone will not be un-made. But the future will bewritten by those who are courageous. Do not sitback and admire mediocrity. I will fight for a worldwhich will carry me as I carry it now. I am not a hero.I am the underdog in an era of celebrated wastrels.But we will find victory and a glorious nation will riseagain.Finbarr, Limerick, 17

■ I’m not on the minimum wage, thank God, but Idon’t think this government has any idea howexpensive day-to-day living is. How would they? Iheard that Brian Cowen is paid more than BarackObama, and, I mean, where’s the sense in that?Avril, cafe worker, Galway, 21

TIS THE WRITIN

G ON THE WALL? Journalism

student Annemaria O’Reilly sa

ys the Government urgently

needs to invest in education

to safeguard the future of Irel

and’s young.Picture: Kieran Clancy

I fear I haveno future inIreland

Postgrad studentAnnemaria

O’Reilly isdetermined not

to be one of the‘lost generation’,

even as herpeers prepare

to leave thecountry

nancial bailout, these times aretough, but, please, invest this moneyso that Ireland’s forthcoming gradu-ates will remain and be the driversof your smart economy.The Irish student is hurting. Fami-

lies are reeling from the pain of therecession and the standard of livingcontinues to fall.The time to run has come, but

where can we hide?The beginning of my student life,

in 2006/7, the life that once was,looks better in memory. Careerprospects in Ireland were excellent,third-level education was universal,and globalisation meant the worldwas your oyster.This was the resounding message

from my siblings, who graduatedfrom the universities of Ireland. I re-call those days fondly, this in con-trast to today’s bleak backdrop.

five-year term leaves no governmentwilling to invest in somethinglonger term when immediate praiseis their goal.Irish politics is corrupted by nepo-

tism and it’s no surprise that’s Ire-land’s youth have lost faith in poli-tics.The recent Red C poll confirms

that Brian Cowen’s approval ratinghas plummeted to 17 per cent. Thefeeling that all politicians are thesame has developed among ouryouth. Radical change is needed toengage this lost generation, but itwill not come from our stale politi-cal parties.Youth unemployment will unleash

social ills, the new legacy for Irishstudents. I predict an increase in so-cial problems, drugs, alcohol abuseand crime.Ireland’s most important resource

is students and, as a nation, we mustlook forward by developing andgrowing this economy.For me, the Ireland of today is dis-

heartening, but could be bearable ifI had some sort of idea that thingsmight improve. What frightens memost is the idea that things will getworse. I have lost faith in the peoplein charge. There is no leadership inthis country that I respect, becausethey give me no reason to respectthem.Long-term friendships from school

years are now split. My friends havemoved to new destinations, such asEngland and the United States. Theyattribute their move to the prospectof more opportunities.The move to another country

seems a necessity for me. A return

to Ireland will be likely, a return tocast my vote in the inevitable gener-al election in 2011.For the rest, people will be de-

terred from coming home for fear ofbecoming a dole statistic.In the midst of anger and fear, I

need to stay and help Ireland be-come the country I want it to be, so

please give me reason to believethat the decision I make will be thecorrect one. It is the students of to-day who will be the leaders of to-morrow.With our country doomed until

2014, Fianna Fáil has failed to devel-op a credible growth strategy, and acredible economic strategy, for theforthcoming graduates of Ireland.Fianna Fáil, you have led the Irishpeople into a brain-drain Irish econ-omy.According to a September report

from the Central Statistics Office,unemployment in Ireland is 13.6 percent; long-term unemployment hasincreased to 5.9 per cent in the pastyear. 6.7 per cent of those who holdthird-level degrees, or above, are un-employed.The Celtic Tiger brought prosperi-

ty, along with a plethora of privi-leges. I now mourn the loss of theprivilege to select my profession,and I have to accept that I may needto take on whatever job I can get.The scale of the radical response

needed is unthinkable.This foolish budgetary policy is

apparently as unstoppable as thefoolish policies that caused thecrash.So what does the future hold for

me, as one of Ireland’s new genera-tion of graduates? Will students con-tinue to emigrate or will recoveryherald a return home?Only time will tell.

■ Annemaria O’Reilly (22) is fromKillarney, Co Kerry. She is studyingfor a master’s in journalism at theUniversity of Limerick.

Thanks for ruiningmy future before it began.Government my ass.— Fergal O' Connor,Cork city (19)

■ I’m furious. These cuts won’t even make a dent inwhat we owe, because of the bankers and lack ofrules. I think the people who caused this mess, likedevelopers and lenders, should have to pay for it. Itseems to me that this government is trying to makesure we all emigrate. I mean, all the talk of a smarteconomy, and everything, is waffle if we have to pay2,000 every year, just in registration fees. The funny

thing is, everyone seems to be saying young peopleare lazy and spongers, but we didn’t cause this mess.The other thing is, I don’t get why this Governmentcan make rules for four years when they will noteven be in power. I voted for the Green party lasttime, but this time I don’t know who you could votefor.Brian, Castlebar, 25

■ I want to start my own business. I’m a surfer andIreland could be a real location for surfers andtourism, so I don’t want to emigrate. We should beinvesting in green businesses and giving grants topeople who want to be entrepreneurs. We couldmake jobs for people instead of being so negative allthe time. I wouldn’t vote for the government and Iknow all my friends are the same. They need to haveelections on days when students can vote as well.Jason, Cork, 18

— Thanks to SpunOut.ie for their support in thecompilation of these comments


Two of my friends aresaying they are going toemigrate. I might go toEngland but I'd really missmy little sister. She's tenand I look after her whenshe's finished school ...

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310,000 279,000

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■ I’m 25-years-old, highly-educated andexperienced with a masters degree, but was maderedundant last year and now cannot get a job forlove nor money. The Government would havemany believe it’s because I’m a product of theCeltic Tiger years — a lazy young person whowants everything handed to them on a plate.But not all of us have the benefit of declaringourselves bankrupt and heading off to Marbella torelax. The Government are attacking the mostvulnerable in this budget. The young, theunemployed, the sick, the elderly, those onminimum wage. But yet those in banking who gotus into this mess — were given bonuses andhuge pensions! Maybe the government arehoping that enough of us will emigrate, and thatthose left behind will die from high cholesterolfrom eating all the cheese.Marie Duffy, 25, Donegal

■ I think the whole situation lacks long-termthinking. The Government, the IMF, the EU arefocused on the short term. Surely it would bemore logical to have the election and allow thepeople of the country to give a mandate as towhat type of budget and plan they want to seeimplemented. It would definitely lead to a morestable Ireland at least internally. Also, why oh whyis it always those who can least afford it that aretargeted. The people to be affected by theminimum wage cut are those ON minimumwage? Surely it makes more sense to squeezesome pennies out of those on 100,000+? I knowit sounds like idealistic ramblings, but really ourcurrent reality is clearly not working so why notturn to a logical idealism?Lucy Murray (Location and age not given).

■ I think a lot more people would be moreunderstanding if the Government had beenhonest about it from the beginning. Too manybad decisions, too many politicians with bigwages and expense accounts and not enoughcommunication. That has to change.Noel Fitzgerald (Location and age not given).

HEN I was insecondaryschool myteachers andfamily as-sured me Iwas lucky

to be heading to col-lege and not into the jobs mar-

ket. That was two years ago, andnow with almost half of my degreeunder my belt, my luck has appar-ently run out. Remaining in collegewill bleed me dry financially if theGovernment has its way. What aremy alternatives? Joining a dolequeue or scraping together the mon-ey for a one-way ticket toGod-knows-where.I have my whole life ahead of me

and, of course, I have plans, dreamsand ambitions. My course of studyhas verified for me that I want to bea journalist, hopefully for a nationalnewspaper but I’m willing to workmy way up.Like anyone I want to travel and

have a career. I’m sure at some stageI’ll want to settle down and maybeone day I’ll start a family. I want togrow old and see my family andfriends lead happy and healthy lives.Nothing I have said is impossiblebut for the first time in my life myfuture is not in my hands.There will be an empty chair at

the dinner table this Christmas; per-haps every Christmas from now on.My aunt bade farewell to her onlyson Conor just last week. The col-lege graduate is now working on aCanadian ski slope. When I remi-nisce about growing up with Conor,I remember his excitement when go-ing to Irish college every summer,his love of GAA and how he knewthe words to more Irish songs then Iknow now. Despite his obvious loveof Ireland, his country had no futureto offer him. The disaster in oureconomy has separated our family.More heartbreaking is that there arefamilies dealing with much worse.Conor is just one face among thou-

sands who chose to emigrate ratherthan join a dole queue. Jobs, busi-ness and prudent budgeting arewhat will save this country. TheGovernment has announced their

I can see an endto the crisis; but it isa long way downthe line and will costus so much morethan money. Oursovereignty is worthmore of a fight andshould be prioritisedover the jobs ofpoliticians who areneither honestnor effective ’

‘

W



The Government wouldhave many believe it’sbecause I’m a product ofthe Celtic Tiger years — alazy young person whowants everything handedto them on a plate. But notall of us have the benefitof declaring ourselvesbankrupt and heading offto Marbella to relax.

■ THE Government’s plan for recovery has, asexpected, hit those less well off the worst. But was itnot bound to happen. The country, minus theGovernment as a whole did not know, nor did manytake particular interest in how things were being rununtil we reached the absolute pit of no return. TheGovernment denied and hid from the people justhow bad things were until it was too late. Now as acountry, we the younger generation will experience,first hand, the difficulties of picking up the pieces. .Jovita Finnegan, 21, Waterford

■ I hate to say it, but it is in many waysembarrassing to be Irish. Our attitude towards life isunsettlingly backwards at times. Although we are anation of great authors, musicians, poets and othercreative forward thinkers, we are most famous forour alcohol abuse. The irony in this is that we areone of few European nations with completelyunnecessarily strict licensing hours. With this in mind,can anyone really be surprised at the state of ourpolitical and economic situation? To change Ireland,we need to take back the money our greedy TD’suse to enjoy luxuries at our expense, let the banksfend for themselves and hope that our nextgovernment has at least some regard for his or herfellow citizens, because those in power at presentcare only for themselves.Citizen Black, 25, Dublin

■ What I don’t get most of all is how people areputting up with the mind-melting hypocrisy of it all. Idon’t get how the free-market buccaneers whohandcuffed the country to the radiator insist thatthey still have the moral and intellectual highground; calling for fiscal responsibility and easing upregulation while the private enterprises they applaudso loudly swallow public money with voracious,ceaseless appetite. I don’t get how they have somuch faith in a financial system so daft it can bebrought down with a game of Chinese Whispers. Idon’t get how those who lived by the sword thinkthey’re immortal. I don’t get how the Irish publichave taken the abuse they’ve been dealt this long.Paddy Duffy, 25, Donegal

■ Where do we go from here? Where can we go?Australia, Timbuktu? As a student in St. Patrick’sCollege, Drumcondra, I am educated surrounded bythe future teachers. An energetic, enthusiasticstudent body who now start their careers withpensions pick-pocketed from them and a tenth oftheir wages siphoned off into some parallel universethat exists on Kildare Street where monetary valueshave no bearing on everyday life. SIPTU presidentJack O’Connor described the 4-year plan issued byCowen and Co as “a roadmap to the Stone Age”.Apt, sure. But may I propose a return to the time ofBC? Before Cuts. Before Crap. Before Cowen.Rob O’Hanrahan, 19, Dublin.

SIPTU presidentJack O’Connor describedthe 4-year plan issued byCowen and Co as “aroadmap to the StoneAge”. Apt, sure. But may Ipropose a return to thetime of BC? Before Cuts.Before Crap.Before Cowen.

Róisín Healy, 19, is astudent at UL and is hopingto become a journalist.

Picture: Kieran Clancy

Burden ofausterity fallson the young

The pain ofmore fees and

the dole queue isnot what young

people expectedfrom the moneythe Government

had in the‘boom’, writes

Róisín Healybudgetary guidelines for the nextfour years; cut, cut, cut. Savings willbe made, and many of the measuresposed in the National Recovery Planare logical and commendable.Labour activation measures to

combat the employment trap are pos-itive actions that will prove sustain-able over time. Even though socialwelfare is to be cut, the developmentof a single social assistance paymentwill provide savings for the Govern-ment, while also providing an incen-tive for those dependent on thesepayments to rejoin the workforce. Itmay seem harsh, but by reducing thenumber of people dependent on wel-fare payments, future budgetary cutswill not be as devastating.There are other depressing and

frightening proposals. Brian Cowen’sgovernment have decided 700mneeds to be cut from the health bud-get next year. Our health system willnot be able to cope. Quality of ser-vice will decline and people will suf-fer. Scandals involving misdiagnosesand X-ray mix-ups may become more

prevalent. How can a system im-prove with less money, fewer em-ployees and reduced facilities? It islogical to expect the worst from thisparticular cut. The number of in-pa-tient beds is to be reduced.I have experienced the indignity

and discomfort of sleeping on a hos-pital trolley. You feel exposed, vul-nerable and completely insignifi-cant. No one should feel that waywhen they are sick.Every family in Ireland has been

touched by cancer. Cancer servicesare overburdened as it is, and wait-ing lists are dangerously long. Everyday counts when it comes to thelethal disease. How much more un-necessary waiting and suffering arewe expected to put up with? Thepoliticians elected to represent usare putting the health of our lovedones at risk. What exactly are ourtaxes paying for? I think Irish tax-payers will agree that healthcareprovision is more pertinent to ourlives than bailing out banks. Pen-sion cuts for the politicians whohave failed the vulnerable would bea much more favourable option.I have friends who are studying to

be nurses, engineers, scientists andteachers. These are respectable pro-fessions that require hard work anddedication. They embarked on defi-nite career paths. They havedreams, they have ambitions andthey have paid what was necessaryto get where they are today. Morefees and an employment crisis didnot feature in these plans. When itcame to my education my motherhas always said, “we’ll find a way.”But I know there are parents who donot prioritise education in this way.One of my friends is putting herselfthrough college. She works two jobs.What are her options? Should shegive up college and work for a fewyears? Does the Government expecther to just forget about how muchtime and money she has put into hereducation and start from scratch?It is such a waste for someone who

is pursuing third-level education,trying to better themselves andbuild a career, to have to give up formonetary reasons. If there has everbeen anything I needed, such as

maths grinds, revision books, oreven when I decided to move awayfrom home for college, I have alwaysknown that my parents would do allin their power to make it happen forme. But as I amend my plans for thefuture because of this crisis, I havecome to the hard realisation that thesupport of my parents and the hardwork I have put in just won’t beenough anymore.The Government handles enor-

mous sums of money. They havedealt with a recession before. Irelandhas experienced economic depres-sion and mass emigration before. Ifind it so hard to fathom how duringthe ‘boom’ years it never occurred toour political leaders to save somemoney for a rainy day.Have they never heard that histo-

ry repeats itself ? It is disappointing

and shameful that not one of our po-litical representatives is willing tobe held accountable for ruining thefuture of our country. They say thatthe recession and the economicdownturn are world phenomena be-yond the control of our Govern-ment. I can see an end to the crisis;but it is a long way down the lineand will cost us so much more thanmoney. Our sovereignty is worthmore of a fight and should be priori-tised over the jobs of politicianswho are neither honest nor effec-tive.My generation was raised to be

ambitious. We do not want to haveour future decided for us.

■ Róisín Healy, a student at theUniversity of Limerick, is 19 andfrom Donoughmore, Co Cork.

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