Minister Foley to open the first ever Ireland–UK Youth Forum in Dublin

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley will open the inaugural Ireland–UK Youth Forum in Dublin today.

The forum, which is being hosted in Iveagh House, Dublin, brings together 60 young delegates aged 16–24 from Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Its purpose is to engage a new generation in shaping the future of Ireland–UK relations, strengthening links and improving mutual understanding between young people across these islands. It will also identify common challenges and opportunities affecting youth in all five jurisdictions, and ensure young voices are heard on issues that matter most to them.

The Forum was established following the first UK-Ireland Leaders’ Summit in March 2025, where both governments committed to creating opportunities for young people to connect, share perspectives, and influence policy.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley said:

“The Ireland–UK Youth Forum shows what can be achieved when we create meaningful spaces for young people to collaborate. It allows young people in Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to have their voices heard on issues that matter most to them. I look forward to seeing the conclusions of today’s discussions, and I know that all of us in Government here in Ireland, as well as our UK counterparts will pay great attention to what our young people bring forward.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee said:

“History shows us that building relationships between the people of these islands can produce deep and lasting results. Today’s Youth Forum is an opportunity to further strengthen our cooperation by putting young people at the centre. Today’s ideas allow us to imagine something better. I want to thank the Youth Advisory Group and all involved for making today such a success. This work lays the foundation for stronger ties between Ireland and the UK for years to come.”

The Ireland–UK Youth Forum is led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Ireland) and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (UK), with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education and Youth, and the Department of the Taoiseach.

Delegates will spend the day participating in facilitated discussions, identifying priority themes that are common among young people, but also unique to their own lives. Using a “blue-sky thinking” approach, they will develop recommendations that will be presented to the Taoiseach and UK Prime Minister at the Leaders’ Summit in spring 2026.

A Youth Advisory Group (YAG), comprising two representatives from each jurisdiction, was established early in 2025. Meeting monthly for nine months, the YAG shaped the Forum’s agenda, methodology, and potential discussion topics. Their work ensured that the event was designed by young people, for young people.

A full report of the Forum’s proceedings will be submitted to both governments in advance of the Leaders’ Summit in spring 2026. The Forum will convene annually, rotating across jurisdictions, to continue fostering relationships and amplifying the voices of children and young people.

Today’s event will also be attended by the UK Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen, underscoring the shared commitment to strengthening Ireland–UK cooperation on youth engagement.

Ambassador Owen commented:

“Young people are a key voice in steering the future of the UK-Irish relationship; they are the ones who will live it and embody it. That is why today’s Forum is so important, and a powerful reminder of the energy and insight that exists across all the nations of our islands together in one room gives us a glimpse of the future we can build when cooperation, curiosity and mutual respect guide our conversations. The delegate’s perspectives give a glimpse of the future we can build together, and their curiosity, creativity, and challenge will help shape policy discussions at the highest levels.”

The youth participants are invited to a cultural event hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade following the Youth Forum.

This initiative reflects the ambition for closer people-to-people relations set out in the UK-Ireland 2030 Joint Statement and Ireland’s bilateral cooperation frameworks with Wales and Scotland.