Bairbre de Brún applauds success of Fermanagh pupils in EU Competition

1 March, 2006

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has travelled to Fermanagh this morning to pay tribute to pupils from Mount Lourdes Grammar school who were joint winners of a European wide competition.

Ms de Brún attended a civic reception at Fermanagh District Council for the pupils, who had designed a leaflet in favour of the proposal: “European Studies should be a compulsory subject in all schools in Europe.” As winners of the competition, the Mount Lourdes students won a trip to Strasbourg where they joined a group of up to 500 European Students where they discussed a range of topics including transport, education, the environment and communication across the 25 member states.

Speaking today Ms de Brún said:

“I want to pay tribute to all of those from Mount Lourdes School who contributed to the school’s success in the Euroscola competition. I also want to praise Fermanagh District Council for organising a civic reception to mark the achievement of the school girls.

“It is essential that people throughout Ireland make informed choices about their future and that we make the EU institutions more real for people in their everyday lives. It has been estimated that 70% of all national legislation originates from Brussels and it is clear that the European Union is playing an increasingly influential role in the lives of Irish citizens.

“Sinn Féin is committed to widening the debate on European issues and I am very pleased that the students of Mount Lourdes are leading the way on this issue.” ENDS