Seán Kelly MEP (Ireland South) has praised “the courage and determination shown by Jackie Fox”, a mother from Ireland who addressed MEPs in the European Parliament, Strasbourg on Tuesday, urging the EU to do more to prevent and criminalise cyberbullying.

Jackie Fox successfully campaigned for a law against online bullying in Ireland which was enacted in 2021 and is known as ‘Coco’s Law’ after Jackie’s young daughter, Nicole, who tragically died from suicide in 2018 after experiencing horrific bullying.

Tuesday, MEPs from 27 countries and different political groups listened intently to Jackie as she told Nicole’s story.

Jackie gave an incredible, emotional speech urging the EU to act to prevent more damage to young people and particularly warned of the dangers that AI can pose in this context”, MEP Kelly said.

“The EPP Group of which Fine Gael is a member of has long called for online bullying to be criminalised across the EU. It was an honour to have Jackie address the EPP Group meeting on Tuesday as well. Given that in Ireland, there have been over 240 prosecutions already under Coco’s Law, the courage and determination shown by Jackie Fox is saving and protecting the lives of other young people. She deserves full credit for her campaign and we in Fine Gael and the EPP Group will continue to support her at EU level”, Mr Kelly said.

Mayor of Killarney Municipal District, Councillor Martin Grady, has successfully passed a motion at the recent meeting of Killarney Municipal District calling on the Department of Education to prioritise the development project at St. Oliver’s National School, Ballycasheen.

The motion past with support from fellow Councillors with no objections to request the prioritisation.

The motion follows the recent announcement by the Department of Education of 105 schools that are to be included in the upcoming two-year National Development Plan programme, with St. Oliver’s National School among those listed.

Councillor Grady has requested that Killarney Municipal District formally write to the Department seeking that the school be prioritised for the timely delivery of the overall project. He stressed that the development must include the provision of additional parking and dedicated drop-off and pick-up facilities.

St. Oliver’s National School is one of the largest schools in the region, with more than 700 pupils and over 100 staff members attending the Ballycasheen school each day. The lack of sufficient parking and proper drop-off and pick-up facilities around the school has created serious congestion during peak times.

Councillor Grady warned that the current situation is both unsafe and unfair for everyone involved.

“As a parent who drops children to the school myself, I see first-hand the chaos that takes place every morning and afternoon,” said Councillor Grady. “There is gridlock, double parking and simply nowhere safe to drop off children. The situation has become extremely difficult.”
He noted that there have already been a number of minor accidents at the location, along with many near misses, raising serious concerns for the safety of pupils, staff, parents and local residents.

“It is unsafe for the children, unsafe for the parents who are trying to drop them off, and unsafe for the staff who work there. It is also very unfair on local residents who are dealing with this level of congestion every day,” he said.

Councillor Grady emphasised that he has raised this issue on several occasions and is again urging the Department of Education to treat the matter with urgency.

“With over 700 pupils and more than 100 staff attending the school daily, proper infrastructure must be put in place. I am calling on the Department to prioritise St. Oliver’s National School, Ballycasheen, in the two-year National Development Plan programme and ensure that additional parking and a safe, dedicated drop-off and pick-up facility are delivered as part of the project.”

The motion was supported at the meeting, and Killarney Municipal District will now write to the Department of Education requesting that the project be progressed as a priority.