Sir, – Who could argue with Emma DeSouza’s assertion that the voice of Northern youth needs to be heard in the context of socioeconomic development in the six counties (“Northern Ireland’s young deserve better than the mess they will be left with”, Opinion & Analysis, January 4th)? But she’s taking aim at the wrong people and institutions. Instead of new structures, forums and “workshops”, we need to allow the existing ones the space to work.
Last May, Eóin Tennyson was elected as an MLA for Upper Bann for the Alliance Party. At 24 years old, and born after the Belfast Agreement was implemented, he is one of the “peace babies” of whom Ms DeSouza writes. As someone who has worked for him, I can attest that if he was permitted to exercise his voice at the Assembly, we would hear a great deal of positive messages about how youth sees the way forward. To enable this we need to remove the DUP veto on the Assembly sitting, and allow all the existing functions of democratic government space to work – not more talking shops. – Yours, etc,
KENNETH HARPER,
Burtonport,
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Co Donegal.
