140 `young tigers' get their teeth into European Parliament issues

THE security was so tight that one speaker got, locked out and arrived late for his speech. So you couldn't blame the organisers of the Model European Parliament for inattention to detail.

Inside the old House of Lords at the Bank of Ireland building in College Green, Dublin, the opening session of the parliament was marked by speeches, in English, from each of the 13 national delegations of teenagers attending.

It was an unnerving experience, watching 16-year-olds going through their paces with the aplomb of experienced debaters.

The head of the Irish delegation, Ms Isabel Pakowski - her father is the German ambassador - quoted Swift in calling for greater debate about Europe.

The speaker from Luxembourg then gave his introductions in six languages.

An Italian delegate said he had decided not to talk about his country's problems since there were so many of them".

Then there was the Greek speaker who put in a bid for her country to hold the next Olympic Games after inviting everyone to "eat souvlaki and dance to the bazooki". Bord Failte take note.

Some 140 young people are attending the parliament, the first time it is being held in this country. The event is modelled on the European Parliament and provides the participants with the chance to debate and pass resolutions on issues of European interest.

The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, said she hoped the "young tigers" in the audience would not dismiss a career of public service. "Politicians do sometimes come in for criticism, but without a sense of service to public life, we wouldn't have a properly, functioning democracy.

She referred to her initiative in introducing civic, social and political education as a timetabled subject in all schools "to inform young people of the civic and political nature of the community in which they are growing up".

After debating the issues in private session during the week, the parliament moves on Friday and Saturday to the Dail, the first time the Chamber has been used for such a purpose.

Three Irish schools - St Andrew's in Booterstown, St Gerard's in Bray, and Sion Hill in Blackrock - were represented at the parliament. The organisers hope more schools will become involved. Expenses have been kept down through the support of a number of organisations.