Smooth operators

Bill Clinton, Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair were born to be politicians. But what about the rest of us? Gráinne Faller explains some of the ways to get involved in student politics - and make a difference

Are politicians born or made? Bill Clinton, Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair are naturals. They were destined for politics. But look at someone such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Before becoming governor of California, the only role he seemed born to play was that of the Terminator. It doesn't stop there. Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, his California town; the wrestler Jesse Ventura was governor of Minnesota; and the actor Will Smith has expressed an interest in the US presidency. Ronan Keating was once even reported to harbour similar ambitions on this side of the water. In the politics game, it seems, anyone can play.

But is that true? Consider how the education system and schools are run. How much of a say do students have in their education? How about matters further afield? International politics seems to consist of the middle-aged making decisions that will mainly affect the young. The problem in Ireland has been that, until recently, the views of young people have been almost entirely left out of the political process.

The good news is that steps are being taken to redress this. The challenge is trying to get people in power to listen to the young. It is all very well putting structures in place, but unless they make a difference what's the point? Oisín O'Reilly, a veteran of second-level student politics, is deputy president of the Union of Secondary Students. He has some strong views on the situation. "It's hard to say how effective the structures are," he says. "Most schools have a student council, for example, but in the majority of those it's just a token gesture. I think there is still an element of fear about what might happen if they bring students into the decision-making process. Older people can be uneasy with the radicalism of the young."

He believes Ireland is well behind the rest of Europe when it comes to youth politics. We are trying to catch up. Second-level student politics may be in its infancy here, but initiatives from students and organisations mean that the opportunities are more varied than they have been. Transition year is the ideal time to get involved.

STUDENT COUNCILS

WHAT DO THEY DO? It varies from school to school. At Ashbourne Community School, in Co Meath, the council meets once a week to "deal with everything from organising a battle of the bands to issues like school equipment and bullying", says Aidan Moyles, who has just been elected one of its members. With problems such as bullying, however, their function is as more of a referral service. Moyles's fellow councillor Emily Vandaele explains: "We pass information on to teachers if necessary. It's all kept confidential." The council also runs a mentoring programme, teaming first years up with older students, who show them the ropes within the school. As for the general running of the school, the council contributes to board-of-management and parents'-association meetings. "We have a good relationship with the principal as well, which helps," says another council member, Louise O'Farrell.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? At Ashbourne Community School, students apply for a place on the council, which is one of the more active in the country. Carmel Moore, a fifth year, says: "Any student is eligible to apply. They are interviewed and selected for the council, but they have to be approved by their tutors. We elect the different officers among ourselves after that."

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? "I like the idea of making a contribution to the school," says Aidan Moyles, who is a third year. "I really enjoyed being on the student council in my primary school, so I thought I'd try for the student council here," says Jason McEvoy, a second year. "The mentoring programme is something I've always been interested in," says Daniel Maguire, a fifth year. "I really like mixing with so many different students - and I organised things I never thought I could," says Alan Buckley, a sixth year.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? Visit www.studentcouncil.ie.

Thanks, also, to Jamie McEvoy, Robert O'Connor, James Heffernan, Anna Reidy, Selena Scully, Ruth Finegan, Muireann Bird, Nicola Doran, Aidan McMahon, Colette Fahy, Elaine Fahy, Alison Doyle and Pat O'Sea

UNION OF

SECONDARY

STUDENTS

When teachers went on strike in 2001, the media focused on them and on the Government. Students felt ignored. In response, some of them decided to set up the Union of Secondary Students and stage a strike of their own. The tactic worked, as attention turned to the plight of the students. Nowadays the union continues to function as a representative body for secondary-school students.

WHAT DOES IT DO? "The workload is huge," says Oisín O'Reilly, the union's deputy president. "We're constantly dealing with individual complaints as well as forming policies. We meet with Government officials about various matters, but of course there's also a huge amount of finance and administration to deal with." The union has been campaigning against antisocial-behaviour orders, or Asbos; it is also involved in the Global Campaign for Education and the Make Poverty History campaign; and it runs a helpline during exams, which it hopes will become a year-round service.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? If your school is not a member of union, your student council must vote on whether or not to join. If you don't have a students' council, the union will put you in touch with the National Children's Office, which will help you to set one up. Each affiliated school then elects two union representatives, who can attend and vote at the meetings, raising issues if they wish.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Oisín O'Reilly says: "I get a great buzz out of it. It really gives me energy to think that we can actually make a difference. Sometimes I get anxious wondering whether we're just wasting our time, but I do think it's worthwhile."

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? Visit www.ussonline.net.

DÁIL NA nÓG

If you feel strongly about subjects such as youth facilities and underage drinking - issues that affect young people nationally - you might want to get involved in advising the Government on how to solve the problems.

WHAT DOES IT DO? Dáil na nÓg is a forum in which young people can discuss issues that affect them and pass their views on to relevant Dáil committees. It meets once a year to agree statements about various topics and to elect a steering committee, which follows up on the statements. Transition-year student Anne-Marie Flynn is a member of this year's steering committee. "Our theme this year was drug and alcohol abuse and facilities for young people," she says. "I was discussing the legal end of things and how to deal with young people who are caught drinking."

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? Each county has a body of young people, called Comhairle na nÓg, who meet to discuss issues affecting young people locally. Dáil na nÓg delegates are selected from these comhairles. Anne-Marie says: "Our comhairle is pretty active. We're campaigning for a youth cafe in Lucan at the moment. We have a premises, and we've put a proposal in, so hopefully it will work."

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? "It's a great social thing," says Anne-Marie. "Young people need facilities, and it's great to be able to do something about that."

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? Visit www.dailnanog.ie, which includes details of the comhairles and who to contact about them.

EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT

Maybe you're more interested in international issues. If so, this could be the forum you're looking for.

WHAT DOES IT DO? The parliament holds conferences in Dublin, Cork and Galway, with a national final at University College Dublin. Over three days, delegates from a wide range of schools discuss all sorts of topics, from the Middle East to European identity. Different groups come up with resolutions that are debated by the delegates, who decide whether to pass them. At the final, a delegation is selected to represent Ireland at a 10-day European conference. The resolutions passed there are sent to the EU committees dealing with the relevant topics.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? A school may send up to eight students in a delegation. They must be in transition or fifth year. Ask your CSPE teacher or your transition-year co-ordinator to contact the parliament if your school is interested in sending a delegation.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Niamh Keegan, a Dublin student, is enthusiastic. "I got involved in transition year, and the weekend conference in Dublin just blew me away," she says. "I was selected as part of the Irish delegation, and my first conference was in Riga [ the capital of Latvia]. I suppose the biggest thing for me was that it put a human face on the issues. If I hear about something happening in Cyprus, for example, I think of my friend Stavros, who lives there. You learn so much about different cultures . . . It's great to feel that I can do something."

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? Visit www.eypireland.com.