Europe’s policymakers are being asked a simple but urgent question: are young people truly being heard when decisions affect their lives? That question is at the heart of a major gov.ie announcement as Dublin hosts a landmark EU Presidency conference focused on children and youth participation in public decision-making.
Published by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on gov.ie, the event brings together more than 250 delegates from 24 EU member states, including 80 children and young people. The conference marks a significant moment for Ireland’s role in shaping policy conversations across Europe, with youth voices placed directly alongside ministers, officials and subject experts.
gov.ie conference puts youth participation at the centre
The two-day high-level conference, titled Listening to Children and Young People – Challenges in Challenging Settings, is being described as the first EU Presidency event of its kind dedicated specifically to children’s participation in decision-making. The initiative reflects a broader public policy focus seen across gov.ie and institutions such as the Department of the Taoiseach, Education, Health, Justice and Social Protection, where consultation and inclusion are increasingly central to service design.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley is opening the conference, stressing that policies affecting children should be shaped with them, not merely for them. That principle aligns with wider Irish public sector values also reflected in bodies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla, the Citizens Information Board and the National Disability Authority (NDA), all of which engage with issues affecting young people and families.
What the conference is discussing
Delegates are expected to examine several pressing issues, including:
- How children and young people can participate in difficult or sensitive policy settings
- How to make the digital world safer for younger users
- Whether digital platforms can better support youth input into decision-making
- How Europe should approach possible age limits for access to social media platforms
The social media age-limit debate is likely to attract particular attention, especially as governments across Europe weigh online safety, digital rights and child protection concerns.
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European leaders and experts back stronger youth inclusion
The gov.ie statement also highlights the participation of European Commissioner Michael McGrath, who is delivering a keynote address on children’s rights and the European Union’s responsibility to protect and promote them. His remarks underline a growing consensus that better policy outcomes depend on meaningful youth engagement from the earliest stages of policy development.
Other speakers include senior European officials and internationally recognised experts on child participation. Their presence signals that this is not just a symbolic gathering; it is intended to inform future Irish and EU-level policy. Recommendations gathered from participating young people will be compiled into a report expected to influence both national decision-making and future EU Council Conclusions.
Why this matters beyond the conference hall
This gov.ie initiative matters because it shifts young people from the margins of consultation to the centre of policymaking. In practical terms, that could influence future work across Education, Health, Children/Disability/Equality, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and even regulators concerned with online safety and media governance such as Coimisiún na Meán and the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
It also reflects a wider trend in Irish public administration, where organisations like the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochána, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) increasingly operate in policy environments shaped by public engagement, rights and transparency.
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What happens next
The key outcome will be a formal report capturing the views, priorities and recommendations of the children and young people taking part. That report is expected to support policy development in Ireland and across Europe, particularly around strengthening participation rights and improving decisions that affect younger generations.
The clearest takeaway from this gov.ie conference is that youth participation is no longer a side issue. If Europe wants smarter, safer and more future-ready policies, young people must be part of the conversation from the start.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
