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Young Dáil na nÓg councillors welcome decision on cervical cancer vaccine
Monday, 18th January 2010
The top recommendation voted by delegates at Dáil na nÓg in February 2009 was that the cervical cancer vaccine should be made available free of charge for all 12-18 year old girls. The Dáil na nÓg Council has been working on this issue for the last 10 months. Dáil na nÓg is the annual national parliament for young people aged 12-18 years.
On Saturday, 16th January, the Dáil na nÓg Council met with Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health and Children and Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
The young councillors welcomed Minister Harney’s decision to commence a cervical cancer vaccine programme for 12 year-old girls.
In the last 10 months, the Council has engaged with a number of key policy makers and stakeholders including, the Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health and Children, the drug companies that manufacture the cervical cancer vaccine and the national co-ordinators for the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Programme and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE).
The other priorities on which the Dáil na nÓg Council is working are the effective implementation of Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) for 5th and 6th year students in schools.
One representative from each of the 34 Comhairle na nÓg is elected to the Dáil na nÓg Council, which follows up on the recommendations from the annual Dáil na nÓg and tries to make changes for young people in those areas. There is a Comhairle na nÓg in every local authority area of the country.
Ends
Press contact:
Mairead O’Hora – Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
01 6354519 / 087 4158288
Notes for editors
Delegates are elected to Dáil na nÓg by the 34 Comhairle na nÓg around the country. 200 teenage delegates attended the eighth annual Dáil na nÓg on 20 February 2009 in Croke Park, Dublin. The next Dáil na nÓg will take place on Friday, 5th March 2010 in Croke Park Dublin.
The Dáil na nÓg Council, which has a term of office of one year, meets once a month and is supported by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) and National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). Staff from the OMCYA ensures that the Dáil na nÓg Council gets the opportunity to engage with appropriate Ministers and policy-makers during its year of activity.
The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) is responsible for funding and overseeing Dáil na nÓg. The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is contracted to organise Dáil na nÓg in cooperation with the OMCYA.
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