Published: Tue, 13 December 2016
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“I was delighted to host a group of 33 bright, young Irish students from a variety of schools from Ireland South on a visit to the European Parliament recently. The Transition Year students won the trip as part of my essay competition entitled “Why is the EU important to me”, which I organised in order to encourage young people to explore their relationship with the EU,” Seán Kelly MEP said.
“It is always a pleasure to meet young people from my constituency and the visiting students were full of enthusiasm and spirit,” he said.
The students enjoyed a tour of the European Parliament and met with Mr Kelly who explained Ireland’s role in the EU, the work of the EU institutions and his role as their local MEP.
“As a former teacher, I believe it essential to engage with and inform young people on EU issues,” he said.
During their two-day visit, the group also had the opportunity to visit the Future Classroom Lab which is an inspirational learning environment in Brussels, challenging visitors to rethink the role of pedagogy, technology, design and the role of ICT in their classrooms. They visited the European Commission, on which occasion they met and spoke with a speech-writer working in the Agricultural Cabinet, exploring the important work speech-writers and Cabinet staff do.
“Congratulations to all those who submitted entries to the essay competition for putting pen to paper and taking an interest in their European Union. The students I had the pleasure to meet in Brussels are an exemplary group of young people and I have no doubt that the future is bright with leaders of their calibre at the helm,” Mr Kelly added.
