Clanabogan student aims for second term as Youth MP for West Tyrone – Photo 1 of 1

Ryan Kearney, a business student at SOUTH West College, has launched a campaign to secure a second term as Youth MP for West Tyrone in the UK Youth Parliament.

His first term as a youth MP began in February 2022 when he was a student at Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in Omagh. Since then, he has engaged with young people on the ground through focus groups and listened to the issues they saw as the biggest priorities for them.

He is the son of Mary and Sean Kearney and has three sisters, Aine, Shauna and Orla. The Clanabogan resident believes the online election will take place before the end of October when the annual conference of parliament takes place.

“This included accessible mental health services, action on climate change and ending vaping. This information was given to public representatives such as West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley and MLA Nicola Brogan, as well as councilors. I was also able to get involved During my term I met with PSNI representatives on several occasions where we discussed the issues they encountered when working with young people. Their feedback identified that the sexual exploitation of young people would be a concern and I am keen to continue talking to Fermanagh and Omagh PSNI and schools and youth groups within the constituency about this issue.

He added that other local projects he championed during his time in office included the delivery of the Strule Shared Education Campus, the Omagh Mental Health Unit and the upgrade of the A5.

“Our Youth Parliament campaign last year focused on universal free school meals for all and this was something we raised with the NI Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary, Chris Heaton Harris and Peter Kyle, as well as Emma Little-Pengelly and the head of the Civil Service, Jayne Brady. Earlier this year I was able to present the UK Parliament’s Youth Select Committee report on the impact of the cost of living on young people, which I was part of as a representative of NI. This was the first comprehensive study of the costs of The impact of the living crisis on young people was so important that it was led by young people. The report made up several recommendations for the government, such as that the government should expand the eligibility criteria for school meals to accommodate the estimated 900,000 people living in food poverty. to determine eligibility, and to investigate whether public transport is affordable for young people.”

Last November, Ryan spoke at the UKYP’s annual House of Commons debate about the importance of restoring holiday hunger payments in NI and calling for adequate funding for NI from the UK government.

“One of my favorite moments as a Youth MP was representing NI along with two other NI Youth MPs at an event at Speakers House in Westminster to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Outside of the UK Youth Parliament, I am the International Officer for the Secondary Student Union and sit on the Executive Committee of the NI Youth Forum,” he said.