Mayo school selected for EU Model Council debate

Ballyhaunis Community School has been selected to participate in the Model Council of the European Union debate.

This is an annual event organised by the European Commission representation in Ireland.

The debate is a simulation of a meeting of the Council of the European Union and involves 27 secondary schools, each representing an EU Member State.

Given that this year is the European Year of Youth (EYY) the Model Council will be ‘badged’ as an EYY event.

Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers will open the debate and has wished the school well.

Speaking about the event, Senator Chambers said: “I was delighted to be asked by the EU commission office to open this year’s Model Council of the European Union debate and thrilled to see a Mayo school, Ballyhaunis Community School selected as one of only 27 schools across the country to take part.

“It is a significant achievement on the part of the school to be selected to participate in this national debate and I have no doubt that they will do their school and their County proud,” she said

The theme of the debate this year is migration. Students will debate a mock legislative proposal based on the ‘solidarity mechanism’ which is part a New Pact on Migration and Asylum by the E.U.

Recent events in Ukraine with the huge flow of refuges fleeing the country has made this debate even more timely.