Debate contribution: Retaining and Inspiring Young Talent

Debate contribution by Mr Pádraig Delargy on 24 June 2024.

MLA

Mr Pádraig Delargy

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 June 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Retaining and Inspiring Young Talent

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4497571

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for moving the motion. When I read through it, I saw a lot of things that have been brought up in the Chamber and clear policies that the Department is bringing through. The motion is very welcome, and I am glad to speak on it today. When I read the motion, the first thing that I thought about was the number of my friends who have had to move away in recent years. They are teachers in Doha, healthcare workers in Australia and tradespeople in America. Sadly, they see very little compelling reason to stay and build their careers here. That is heart-wrenching, and we all understand the devastating impact that that has on their families and our entire community. It is an experience that many of us have felt personally.

That cannot continue. We must work together to do everything in our power to ensure that young people see their future here at home. Today, I want us to commit to working together to make sure that that can happen, that young people can stay in Ireland and build a life, get a good job and own their own home here and that young people from here are no longer built for export. Imagine having an even bigger powerhouse of young, bright minds teaching in our schools, working with patients in our hospitals, contributing to our communities and innovating in industries here, being trailblazers for positive and progressive change. By working together in the Chamber to create new and exciting opportunities, good working conditions and fair pay, we invest in that next generation to ensure that we can build brighter, better and stronger futures on our island. It is a win-win: our talented youth get the chance to thrive, and our island gets the enormous economic benefit of everything that their skills and passion bring. Let us make this island that we call "home" the place where dreams can come true, careers can flourish and the future of every young person has endless possibilities. Together, we have the power to deliver that real change, create a future where our young people have those opportunities at home and be a game changer for everyone in society. It is with that passion and that creativity and determination that we can build a brighter and more prosperous Ireland. To harness that potential, we must create a path that values education and creates ample opportunities with meaningful careers. Education is the cornerstone of any thriving society. It is through education that we equip our young people with the tools that they need to succeed, innovate and lead. Education is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about inspiring a love of learning, nurturing curiosity and fostering critical thinking. It is about creating an environment where every young person feels valued, empowered and encouraged to pursue their dreams. Our current education provision, whilst strong in many respects, needs to evolve to meet the demands of the modern world. We must ensure that our schools and universities are not just institutions of learning but incubators of talent. That means investing in industries that have the potential for growth, such as technology, renewable energy and creative arts; supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of our economy; ensuring that young people have access to apprenticeships, internships and on-the-job training to give them the practical skills to succeed; and looking at our economy as a whole. We must address the issues of fair wages and job security to ensure that young people are not stuck in low-paid, precarious jobs with little hope of advancement. I welcome that Ms McLaughlin raised the positive progression that we have seen in CAO applications, because I have worked with my colleague Mairéad Farrell, my party's spokesperson on further and higher education in the South, to ensure that that is advanced through the Dáil and through Conor's work as Minister here. That really shows the opportunity to create positive change and difference, working as an all-Ireland party, on all those all-Ireland issues. I also note the mention of Magee. It is positive that we will see an additional 500 students coming to Magee this September. We all have to welcome that. That is positive progression and a step in the right direction. Inspiring and retaining young people is not just an economic imperative but a moral one. It is about ensuring that every young person here has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances. It is about creating a society where talent and hard work are rewarded and every individual has the chance to contribute to the common good.

779 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:48 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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