Youth unemployment was highlighted as the key issue at a questions-and-answers session between young people and a panel of candidates for the European elections in Dublin last night.

The session followed the screening of a short movie called My MEP My Voice at the Screen Cinema on Townsend Street, where a host of young people explained to the camera the issues they wanted to see dealt with by their candidates at European level.

The event was moderated by Margaret E Ward, a journalist and member of European Movement Ireland, and was attended by Sinn Féin candidate Lynn Boylan, Socialist Party candidate Paul Murphy, Green Party candidate Eamon Ryan and People before Profit candidate Brid Smith.

On the issue of youth unemployment, Ms Boylan said there were problems in terms of how young people have been portrayed by the Government and the media.

“You can’t cut your way out of recession – there is a narrative in the media that young people are somehow responsible for the position they are in,” she said. “Since the recession started we have presented costed budgets that would reduce youth unemployment. We want a 1 per cent wealth tax and we want the proceeds of that to be ring-fenced to combat youth unemployment.”

Mr Murphy said there was a need to end the policy of austerity and begin to invest in jobs. “The Government and the media have tried to blame young people for being unemployed but the answer is simple and the reason is blatantly obvious,” he said.

“There are no jobs. The Government needs to dispense with the mantra that Governments can’t create jobs. Creating jobs needs investment and private sector investment has collapsed.”

Ms Smith said there was a “lack of hope” among young people which was creating mental health problems. “It doesn’t take rocket science to realise we need investment to create jobs,” she added.

Mr Ryan said there was a need for the issue of youth unemployment to be tackled at European level.