Sixth class pupils nationwide to get EU Presidency book

Every sixth-class primary school pupil in Ireland is set to receive a free children's version of Ireland's EU Presidency Policy Programme. The book, commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was launched yesterday by Minister Helen McEntee at Stackallen National School in Co Meath. Principals have been invited to distribute the book to the more than 70,000 sixth class pupils nationwide. Titled 'Ireland's EU Presidency - Ní neart go cur le chéile’, meaning there is no strength without unity, it contains accessible language and illustrations targeted at 8-12 year olds. Each chapter breaks down a different aspect of the role of the EU Presidency. Minister Helen McEntee spoke at the launch about the reasoning behind the book’s release. "Every decision we take impacts young people, they mightn’t realise it. "So today, and more broadly with the book, it’s about letting them know that this impacts their life and getting their views on what more we can do," she said. The book's author is children’s writer Siobhán Parkinson, who created the book alongside illustrator Nene Lonergan. She said she wrote the book hoping to find a balance of tones. "It’s for the emotion, the enjoyment, the imagination and all those things, but it’s also really important that children can grow up to be citizens, readers and also understand the world and the news," she said.

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Published

09 Sep 2026

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