St. Augustine's College Dungarvan

The famous chandelier that hangs now in Stormont. Used to hang in Westminster. The vivid colours on the ceiling have a freshly painted look but it actually has never been painted since first decorated eighty years ago!

The three participants after a good days work! L to R.Ronan O'Neill, Clara O'Connor and Mollie Lenihan.

Final debate concluded. Thanks for keeping an eye on proceedings and your comments.
There will now be a tour of Stormont for the students.

Vote is in...indecisive result so the motion fell.

The vote went ahead. Belgium (The Friary) voted YES to:
Greater role given to National Parliaments; set up a Commission task force to assist member states in public sector reform; ECB to take ultimate responsibility for supervision of bank; and finally, Create a banking union involving a single supervisor, a common deposit guarantee scheme and a rescue fund paid for by levies on financial institutions.

Mollie put forward a good question regarding the validity of the debate on the grounds that Nation Parliament rights have already been written into the legislation.

Suggested amendments to the proposals rejected by the Chair due to time constraints. She recommended a request to the Commission to appraise the situation for a further debate.

Belgium rejected the idea of the EU only supervising the top 25 banks as this gives other banks a carte blanche to do what they wish.

Mollie made it very clear that Lithuania's proposal to expel member states should not be entertained. Following this and other comments from other countries, the Chair decided not to proceed with the vote on whether or not countries should be liable for expulsion.

Mollie put forward a compelling case for reducing European interest rates where necessary but in the event of having to support a country's banking structure then an interest rate increase has to be approved. The supervision by the ECB is becoming a contentious issue during this debate.

Mollie is trying to get another chance to contribute to the debate. Not easy competing against 26 other speakers equally eager to have their say. This new group have learned from the first debate and are being more forceful and responding to any comment that deserves support or rejection. Great to hear young people debating these topics. They are discussing everything from crime to neo-liberalism.

Mollie challenged Lithuania on their suggestion of EU expulsion policy. She stressed the importance of being "one" and supporting rather than criticising each other.