The Irish YM interview questions to the conference delegates 

 

Q1. What is your role in this conference?

 

Q2. Briefly describe what your job is?

 

Q3. Are you aware of the term NEHAP?

 

Q4.  If Mulroy College were interested in furthering our environmental health work would you be supportive of it?

 

Q5.  Do you feel our new legislation on smoking will benefit both the environment and the health of our country?

 

Q6.  Will other countries follow our example?

 

Q7.  We intend to develop a local environmental and health action plan for our area.  Do you think a secondary school is the place for this?

Shauna Mc Bride showing Mr Brendan Quinn, Dept. Environment the Irish section of the website.

Shauna Mc Bride navigating her way through the internet with Mr. Oliver Heiden of the Department of Health Ireland.

Mairead Gallagher, YM Ireland showing the youngminds website to  the Macedonian delegate

Project Schoolpath - School Surroundings

 

Mairead Gallagher interviewing an Austrian delegate.

What is your role at this conference?
 

My name is Ernst Plauimauer and I'm a teacher of geography and philosophy in Vienna, Austria.  I am accompanying 3 students who have participated in a contest in my country entitled ''Students planning the mobility of the future''.  Our school is one of 8 schools who won a prize and we have a stand at this conference displaying the overall project.  Our own particular topic was called ''Schoolpath - School Surroundings'', ''The Impact Regional and Global Traffic has on our Society and our Environment''.

The contest was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Waste Management and Austria's Climate Alliance. 

Our students will also have a role in the Youth Parliament and will participate in making a resolution at the youth conference.

Mairead and Shauna chilling out, taking a break!

Mr. Francois Andre from Belgium and Mr. Bernard Maloney.

A short interview with Bernard

 

What's your role at this conference?

 

I'm here to represent the Department of Environment and Local Government and to advise the Minister for State in relation to his agenda.

What is your role in the Department of Environment and Local Government?
I'm involved with the co-ordination of the EU presidency within my department and I'm also dealing with Environment and Health.

 

What do you think of the recent legislation on smoking in the workplace in Ireland?

 

I think the smoking ban is excellent.  Norway will be introducing a similar ban in the near future.

Mairead, Mr. Andre and Shauna

Lianne Savage from the English Young Minds group, Shauna Mc Bride and Mairead Gallagher of the Irish group pictured with Minister of State Pat The Cope Gallagher

The Donegal crew out in force in Budapest!! Mairead Gallagher, Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher and Shauna Mc Bride.

What is your role at this conference?
First of all, I'm representing the presidency for Ireland. At the moment Ireland holds the presidency. I'm also representing Ireland as a Minister of State. I'm co-ordinating with the 24 other states to find a common position.

 

Could you briefly discuss your job as Minister for State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
I have responsibilities for Local Government, Environmental Services, and work closely with the Minister on European matters.

 

Are you aware of the term NEHAP?
Yes, I'm very aware of Ireland's draft NEHAP and I hope it can progress as a result of this conference.

 

If Mulroy College were interested in furthering their environmental and health work, would you be supportive of it?
Of course I would, and I'm very impressed and very proud to see Mulroy College from County Donegal representing Ireland here together with seven other countries. I'd be very interested in helping. I acknowledge the help from the Donegal VEC and the North Western Health Board and I hope you can link with the Donegal County Council or indeed the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

 

Do you think the new legislation on smoking has been beneficial to the country?
I felt that smoking should have been allowed in designated areas originally. I do support the decision to introduce it but I understand sales for publicans are down.

 

Do you think other countries will adopt it?
Norway are going to introduce it and Sweden are considering the ban.  Ireland have lead the way and a lot of countries are looking at us.

 

We intend to implement a local environmental action plan within our school. Is a vocational or secondary school the place to do so?
I feel that if we are to protect our environment it must begin in schools.  The message in the Green Flag is being taken home and into the communities where it can effect the entire country.

Irish Young Minders pictured with a French delegate.

Irish Young Minds with Mr Jansen, EEA

What's your role in Young Minds?

One year ago the Director of the EEA was interested in addressing a younger audience regarding environmental matters. WHO, the World Health Organisation, asked if the EEA would be interested in financing the Young Minds project. I'm the Media Production Manager at the EEA and we've developed a game, Conoloco. We are launching it here at this conference also. I'm here to help launch the game and to observe the Young Minds project.

Do you think it is important to hear young peoples' views?

I think there should be a lot more representation of young people at venues such as this.  I hope you will participate in the launch and see the benefits of being interested in environmental issues.

Mairead Gallagher, John Kelleher Ireland, Principal of International Environmental Unit and Shauna Mc Bride.

What's your role at this conference?

I'm here representing the Department of the Environment and Local Government and I'm assisting our Minister of State, Pat the Cope Gallagher.  I'm the senior official in the International Environmental Unit in the Department.  I'm responsible for co-ordinating and preparing my Department and the Ministers for a wide range of environmental conferences, particularly for the UN environmental programme and preparing the EU position under the EU presidency.

Are you familiar with the term NEHAP?

Our Department have been working on this plan along with the Department of Health and Children.

If Mulroy College intend to develop a Local Environmental Action Plan will your Department be able to help us?

It's important that young people have an input into decision making. I feel the model of partnership which is already working in Ireland is the way to go for plans such as this to work.

What is your opinion on the new smoking legislation?

I agree with it. I'm aware that other countries will follow our lead. It's pleasing that we're the first country to introduce it.

What's your opinion of the Young Minds project?

It's great to see so many students from the different countries developing models of best practice.  It's what the EU is all about.

A question from Mr Kelleher to Shauna.
How do you feel yourself about the project?

We feel its a great experience and great fun.  Its also a privilege to represent your country at such an important gathering.

Michaela Kantorova, Mairead Gallagher,Sebastia Peris i Marco, Shauna Mc Bride, Minister Micheal Martin and Stephen Doherty.

Mairead Gallagher, Shauna Mc Bride, Minister Micheal Martin and Mr Stephen Doherty.

Irish Interview with Minister Michael Martin.

 

Q1. What is your official title in the Irish government?

 

Minister for Health and Children. I was a former school teacher and former Minister for Education.

 

Q2. What role do you have here today at this conference?

 

I will represent Ireland at the signing of the Ministerial declaration which will take place at the closing of this World Health Organisation conference.  I am also chairing a Ministerial round table on implementation of Health and Environment policy.

 

Q3. We have carried out an investigation into a NEHAP.  Are you aware of this term?

 

Yes it's a National Environmental Health Action Plan.

 

Q4. Can a school like Mulroy College help in implementing a NEHAP?

 

Yes of course! This will only work if we get input from communities such as schools. Good Environmental Health programmes help young people make good decisions and young people are the decisions makers of tomorrow.

 

Q5. You have introduced new laws on smoking. Do you think they're a success?

 

Yes, this is evident as 97% of the population are complying with it. Many people stop me in the street and thank me. I understand that it is difficult for smokers as it's an addiction but studies have shown that tobacco smoke is harmful.

 

Q6. Do you think other countries will follow with this legislation?

 

Yes, Norway have already introduced it on the 1st of June and Sweden has passed legislation on it. 

Mairead and Shauna with Jack and Zoe, the Irish members of the Youth Parliament and two representatives from the Irish National Childrens Office

Mairead, Shauna, Zoe and Jack.

The Young Minders from the Healthy Planet Forum meet with the Young Minders from the Ministerial conference.  Included are Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, Minister for State for the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Mr Brendan McMahon, the Irish ambassador to Hungary,  Ms. Ursula O'Connor, teacher, Barry Greene, and Paul Carr.

Mairead Gallagher, Ms Siobhan McEvoy, and Shauna McBride

What is your role at this conference?
I have three functions at the conference.
I have been appointed as a rapporteur for WHO which involves taking notes at various meetings and reporting back to the WHO.

I am also involved with co-ordinating the EU presidency along with my colleagues from Ireland.

My final role is to advise and support the Minister at this conference.

What is your role in the Department of Health and Children?
I'm Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer at the Department of Health and Children in Ireland. My areas of responsibility include Food Safety, Tobacco Control, and Environmental Health.

If Mulroy College were interested in developing their Environmental projects in school, would you be supportive?
Absolutely!  Young people should be involved in projects such as this.  I think what you've done is a mark of what can be achieved in such a small timeframe and congratulations to all involved.

Do you think the Irish presentation along with the website has dealt with the issue of Environment and Health?
Yes, I think a lot of people will visit the website and I know a lot of people are impressed with the presentation.  I might add that a lot of delegates have complimented your friendly and professional attitude during the conference.