Young people are being robbed of "getting the shift" and other life experiences due to the pandemic, a Fianna Fáil Senator has said.
Malcolm Byrne told how the sacrifices that young people have made need to be recognised.
He told the Irish Mirror: “Young people are missing out [on getting the shift].
“I’m trying to make the point that young people are having to spend every weekend in and not being able to go out to the nightclubs and build relationships to learn about themselves and find out about themselves.
“It’s for a good reason but we need to be conscious of the impact this is having on young people.”
Mr Byrne said he has been struck by the impact the pandemic has had on young people who are suffering with anxiety and depression.
He said Leaving Cert students have missed out on their debs and the party lifestyle that comes with starting college.
He encouraged people to follow HSE advice around having sex during the pandemic.
But added: “We need a personal responsibility.”
The former Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford said he told his Seanad colleagues to reminisce on times when they were young and how young people today are missing out on “rites of passage.”
He said: “It is about being able to go to Coppers or the local nightclub, it’s all part of being young.
“All of those sacrifices are not being talked about and maybe as a society we aren’t appreciating it as much as we should.
“When we get a vaccine and get through this there’s going to be one hell of a party and we’ve got to make sure there’ll be nobody more willing to go out and enjoy life than young people who have made all of these sacrifices.”
Earlier this week in the Seanad, Mr Byrne raised the issue during a Living With Covid debate.
He told colleagues they were lucky to have had the freedom but a generation is at danger of losing that now.
He said: “It was when we went to nightclubs and, yes, when we got the shift, when we got into a relationship and when we learned about ourselves.
“Those things all make people smile, but they were important rites of passage.
“A whole generation of young people is now in danger of losing all that.”
Mr Byrne urged young people to reach out to mental health support services if they are struggling.
And he encouraged them to contact their local TDs and Senators if they have ideas on how they can make life that little bit easier throughout the pandemic.
