NUIM Model Parliament November 12 2012
Both Niamh Kerslake and Alexa Ennis from St. Pauls Secondary School participated in the NUIM Model Parliament 2012.
Both students prepared and submitted a leaders speech and research papers (Opposing the Bill) in advance of the debate and participated on the day with students from other schools nationally. The standard was very high and both Niamh and Alexa were excellent. Alexa was awarded a prize for the Best Research Paper on Children's rights. Ceann Comhairle, Mr. Sean Barrett, who chaired the session presented Alexa with her certificate and 100 euro.
The following is an except as published by the NUIM about the event:
"The controversial Children’s Bill was the subject of this year’s Model Parliament hosted by the Department of Law at NUI Maynooth. On Monday, November 12th, 60 school students ... from around Ireland took part in the event which was chaired by An Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seán Barrett T.D.
NUIM Law: Model Parliament 2012 simulates a sitting of the Dáil, at which students play the roles of backbench TDs, Taoiseach and Leader of the Opposition. It is designed to inspire and encourage young parliamentarians to develop their interest in assembly politics and to engage them in the workings of collective decision-making processes.
Having been elected Taoiseach by his fellow parliamentarians at a preliminary meeting at NUI Maynooth on October 22nd, Félim O Maolmhána of Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, presented a draft bill to amend the Constitution to recognise explicitly the rights of the child. Each parliamentarian submitted a research brief to their elected party leaders. Following a spirited floor debate, a vote called by the Ceann Comhairle ended in defeat for the Bill. The award for best research paper was made to Alexa Ennis, St. Paul’s Secondary School, Greenhills, Dublin, with Stephen Leo, Opposition Leader, Cistercian College, Tipperary, taking the award for best floor contribution. The award for overall best school went to Mount Sackville, Chapelizod, Dublin."
An Ceann Comhairle congratulated the students on the high standard of their contributions, and spoke of the importance of collective debate in the decision-making process.
To access more photos of the event and reviews published by NUIM, please click here.
Both students prepared and submitted a leaders speech and research papers (Opposing the Bill) in advance of the debate and participated on the day with students from other schools nationally. The standard was very high and both Niamh and Alexa were excellent. Alexa was awarded a prize for the Best Research Paper on Children's rights. Ceann Comhairle, Mr. Sean Barrett, who chaired the session presented Alexa with her certificate and 100 euro.
The following is an except as published by the NUIM about the event:
"The controversial Children’s Bill was the subject of this year’s Model Parliament hosted by the Department of Law at NUI Maynooth. On Monday, November 12th, 60 school students ... from around Ireland took part in the event which was chaired by An Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seán Barrett T.D.
NUIM Law: Model Parliament 2012 simulates a sitting of the Dáil, at which students play the roles of backbench TDs, Taoiseach and Leader of the Opposition. It is designed to inspire and encourage young parliamentarians to develop their interest in assembly politics and to engage them in the workings of collective decision-making processes.
Having been elected Taoiseach by his fellow parliamentarians at a preliminary meeting at NUI Maynooth on October 22nd, Félim O Maolmhána of Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, presented a draft bill to amend the Constitution to recognise explicitly the rights of the child. Each parliamentarian submitted a research brief to their elected party leaders. Following a spirited floor debate, a vote called by the Ceann Comhairle ended in defeat for the Bill. The award for best research paper was made to Alexa Ennis, St. Paul’s Secondary School, Greenhills, Dublin, with Stephen Leo, Opposition Leader, Cistercian College, Tipperary, taking the award for best floor contribution. The award for overall best school went to Mount Sackville, Chapelizod, Dublin."
An Ceann Comhairle congratulated the students on the high standard of their contributions, and spoke of the importance of collective debate in the decision-making process.
To access more photos of the event and reviews published by NUIM, please click here.