Home > Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs debate. Breaking Through: presentation.

[Oireachtas] Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs debate. Breaking Through: presentation. (18 Jan 2006)

External website: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_...


Chairman:  I welcome the representatives of Breaking Through, a support network for youth work practitioners. The network is relevant to our work on drug and alcohol abuse, both of which are major issues for young people. The representatives are Mr. Paul Flynn, vice-chairman of the organisation, Mr. James O'Leary, PRO, and Ms Marie Halligan, administrator. I will ask the three representatives to make their presentation and then open the discussion for questions. The questions will be taken cumulatively.

It should be pointed out that while members of the committee enjoy absolute privilege, the same privilege does not extend to those appearing before the committee. I call Mr. Flynn.

Mr. Paul Flynn: I work for an organisation called CROSSCARE, the Dublin diocesan social care agency, but I am before the committee to represent Breaking Through, of which I am vice-chairman. It is unusual for me to be here. Normally, our national development officer, Ms Eileen Burke, would be present but she is on maternity leave. As she is expecting a baby at any minute, I have been given the task of leading this discussion. I will run through a short history of Breaking Through, including what we have done previously and what we hope to do in the future.

[For the full debate, click this link to the Oireachtas website]

Repository Staff Only: item control page