Northern Ireland Youth Assembly members meet at Stormont

Climate change and mental health were among issues discussed

Young people who make up the new Northern Ireland Youth Assembly met at Stormont on Saturday.

The 90 young people, aged 13 to 17 years old, from across Northern Ireland mirror the number of assembly members.

It is the second cohort of the assembly, founded in 2021 for young people to discuss issues which matter to them.

During their two-year term, members meet regularly in Northern Ireland's parliament buildings.

They will also participate in smaller committee meetings to discuss their ideas, views and recommendations in greater detail.

At Saturday's meeting, members had the opportunity to highlight issues which they felt needed to be discussed by the assembly.

Topics spoken about included climate change, mental health and integrated education.

One member at the meeting was 15-year-old Bláthnaid Girvan, who is a young carer.

She said that young carers' voices need to be heard and voiced her disappointment that they had not featured in a review of children's social care services in Northern Ireland conducted by the Department of Health.

"During the next two years, I would like to be involved in any group that will focus specifically on how the new arrangements would better serve young carers' health, social care and educational needs."

"We are wanting a change and we are wanting to see progress," Lila says

Following the meeting, youth assembly member Lila said it would be "much appreciated" if MLAs could "get back in there and listen to our ideas".

"Take a leaf out of our book and see that we are wanting a change and we are wanting to see progress," she said.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been blocking Stormont power-sharing since February 2022.

It has been protesting against post-Brexit trade arrangements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

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"Decisions are made every day that affect our future," says Ronan

Ronan, another member, said the youth assembly was important as it "gives young people a voice".

"Decisions are made every day that affect our future and we need to be able to say if we approve of them," he said.

Alliance Assembly Commission Member John Blair presided over the sitting.

This article was updated on 21 December 2023 to reflect more fully the subjects and issues debated at the Youth Assembly.