Echoes of elders as young discuss North

IT could have been the Dail, the House of Commons or even the Northern Ireland Forum in Belfast.

The difference was that the participants were significantly younger and a melange of most of the main political parties in the Republic, Northern Ireland and Britain.

The arguments, posturing and debates echoed those of their seniors. The style and gender ratio were the same - predominantly brown (and some grey) suited young men and very few women. Indeed, one of the most vocal arguments was about the participation of women and was sparked by a comment from a young Fine Gael male who thanked a Fianna Fail "girl" for helping out.

The inter party sniping would have compared well with any parliament and the conclusions ... well, the conclusions drawn were that they should meet again.

The 60 delegates were from the youth wings of the various political parties "on these islands" and were there to discuss the prospects for peace.

The conference was hosted by the American ambassador, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, at her Phoenix Park residence in Dublin, and organised by Young Fine Gael.

Like more senior gatherings, this forum also had its political difficulties. The DUP youth did not attend while the Ulster Democratic Party was holding its own annual conference in the North. An invitation to Sinn Fein was subsequently withdrawn by Young Fine Gael, because of the recent arms finds and the killing of a British soldier.

Mrs Kennedy Smith said she would have liked the conference to be all inclusive. "However, we are here to provide the venue, and it is for the organisers to determine participation. What unites us is our common commitment to the success of the political process."

The parties considered old rivalries and current problems in workshops on the talks, the RUC, cultural dimensions, and security. The views of the established senior politicians were reflected by the youth wings. And thus the difficulties. On the issue of raising Union Jacks over RUC stations "well, we just abandoned that discussion", said the chairman of one of the workshops.

At another discussion, a young unionist suggested that there should be a five year gap after a ceasefire before Sinn Fein was allowed into talks, and then conceded that five years might be an exaggeration but time was needed to build up trust.