Well, he isn’t exactly incorrect, is he?
Fianna Fáil politician Malcolm Byrne has told the Seanad that young people in Ireland are missing out on “the shift”, among other things, due to Covid-19.
Byrne told the Seanad that he is concerned about young people who are not experiencing “rites of passages” that have been enjoyed by other generations due to the global pandemic.
He said: “We are all lucky here because we can remember that time. It was the time of our learning experiences. The summer of our Leaving Certificates, and when we went to college, and the joy of all that.
“It was when we went to nightclubs and, yes, when we got the shift, when we got into a relationship and when we learned about ourselves.
“Those things all make people smile, but they were important rites of passage. A whole generation of young people is now in danger of losing all that.”
Nightclubs across Ireland have been completely closed since March of this year, with no opening date in sight.
Byrne went on to reference a report by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the youth information organisation SpunOut, which revealed that young people had reported becoming “anxious, isolated and worried” as as result of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
“That is particularly the case because many of the avenues that were open to those aged from 17 to 20 years old are now closed,” Byrne added.
“Gyms are closed, many sporting activities are restricted and access to arts, drama and music activities is also restricted.”
Byrne continued: “We can never make it up to those young people, but we must ensure they have support. I am aware that additional supports have been made available on the mental health side of things at second and third level.”
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