Over 80 secondary pupils from schools across Ireland gathered at the Printworks Building at Dublin Castle on Thursday to participate in the Model Council of the European Union debate on the European Green Deal. The Green Deal is the EU’s response to the existential challenge posed by the climate crisis: a comprehensive package of structural reforms and new policy initiatives designed to make the EU the world’s first “climate-neutral continent” by 2050.
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD opened the event. Gerry Kiely, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, and Barry Andrews, MEP, who also Chaired the Debate, addressed the pupils and the audience.
A team of three secondary pupils from each participating school represented a minister from one of the EU Member States. Croatia was represented by three pupils from Manor House School, Raheny, Dublin.
The Model Council is an annual debate for secondary schools organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland. It is a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union and involves teams from 27 secondary schools, each of which represents an EU Member State. The event allows schools to gain first-hand experience of the EU"s decision-making process.
Davor Vidiš, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Ireland, and Dubravka Popic, First Secretary, attended the debate and met the team. They also presented the pupils from Manor House School with brochures and Croatian souvenirs.
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