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ENDA KENNY will travel to Brussels today for two days of talks with other EU leaders on addressing youth unemployment.
The European Council meeting will aim to agree concrete measures to tackle youth unemployment, such as speeding up the Youth Employment Initiative and increase youth mobility.
The leaders are also being urged to agree a new ‘investment action plan’ to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, all of those measures may be overshadowed by the conclusion of the ‘European Semester’ – a process which will see leaders formally consider recommendations to each individual member state advising them on their Budget plans.
Ireland has not been given any such recommendation, as it is currently within a bailout programme which comes with its own separate terms and conditions.
Leaders are also expected to be updated on progress in talks on the EU’s seven-year budget, from 2014 to 2020, and on plans to cement a European banking union – a matter which is necessary before Ireland can hope to recoup any of its banking bailout costs from the Eurozone’s bailout funds.
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I agree fitness is extremely important,
But I hope things have changed from when I was in school where if you didn’t do GAA it meant you basically did nothing.
There’s more to exercise then GAA stuff
@Barry Somers: Totally agree, if you love football and hurling great, but if not you were neglected. It’s only when you get to uni that you get to do the cool sports like fencing or paragliding
@Catalanista: A bit childish now ,that’s not what he meant and you know it but to add to the situation there is a insurance problem with claim’s for all sort’s of rubbish
@Barry Somers: where i was at school if you did GAA sport, football or hurling and if you were any good to play for the school team but didnt or wouldnt play then you were victimised by the couch who doubled as a teacher as well.
@Barry Somers: Our native sports should be promoted as much as possible at schools level. Of course children should be encouraged and given the option to try lots of different sports, but for the likes of you its any excuse to have a cheap shot at the GAA. You could say the exact same about lots of other schools which promote rugby, soccer, even volleyball at the expense of other sports, obviously you went to a GAA focused school
Replace the half hour per day on the primary curriculum spent on religious instruction/education with PE. Kill two birds with the one stone.
@The Risen: cycle or walk to school and use the religious period for nutrition classes, social awarenessand mental health education. A holistic approach to personal and societal well being.
@James Wallace: Agreed. however, many families are not within walking distance of their school. A solution is needed that catches all students.
@The Risen: true but even new schools are not incorporating safer ‘active travel’ options for students. Last year, somewhere in Dublin I forget where, councillors objected to safe cycling routes for children that were part of the new school build plan, because of the impact it would have on traffic. We have our priorities all wrong in that regard. Also, have a look at this link from Knocknacarra in Galway. There are alternatives Scroll to the bottom for video
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwj43beF09bgAhWVRBUIHXBLDaQQzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fnews%2Fconnacht%2F2019%2F0125%2F1025475-schools-galway-cycling%2F&psig=AOvVaw2haFEj5onldEwKi0PIsDxX&ust=1551176001321962
I agree about offering what girls want. Many will opt for classes that they see connected to appearing fit. Circuit training and weights may also be a positive option. I can’t remember physical education classes being enjoyable at all.
@Rathminder: they trialed yoga with our year for P.E. and I’ve never seen the whole class more engaged with exercise. It worked really well.
Pilates, TaeBo (kick boxing) and Zumba would be great options. Also weightlifting would be brilliant. I learned how to design a weight-lifting regimen in one of my university classes and it was a life skill that I have been able to pass onto my 15-year old son. Only offering hockey or rounders for PE in senior cycle is a bit short sighted.
Regular exercise reduces all cancers by 45%.
Regular exercise essentially reduces every disease (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, bone fracture, dementia…..) by half and not exercising doubles the incidence of most diseases.
No sponsorship from big pharma to get this message out.
Dream on ,between health and safety, solicitors, and insurance premiums any type of physical activity “est vorbodden”
have your say