Anita is Young Thinker of the Year

Young UK and Ireland 2012. Left to right: Anita Toolan, Richard Miles (honorary timekeeper), Inna Taylor, Caoimhe Gavin, Matthew Harper, Stephanie Pitticas, Gillian McMahon, Michelle Howard, Matthew Nobbs, Kieran O'Brien, Elizabeth Goodwin and Allison Simmance

Anita Toolan of the Department of Justice and Equality in Dublin become the third Irish winner of the title UK and Ireland Young Thinker of the Year in the programme's nine-year history. The final took place against the spectacular background of the road and rail bridges over the Forth near Edinburgh.

In her winning paper, Anita delivered a eloquent argument in favour of extending the franchise to Irish emigrants. The adjudicators praised the paper for its 'admirable balance of reason and passion' and said she had given compelling reasons for the proposed reform. She won the Richard Wild award named in memory of a young journalist murdered in Iraq.

The runner-up was Michelle Howard of West Lindsey District Council whose paper on rough sleepers was praised for its warmth and humanity. The adjudicators said that she had a 'complete mastery of her material'.

In third place, Elizabeth Goodwin was highly commended for her paper on the ethics of international aid, arguing that human rights were of supreme importance as a precondition of such aid.

The Inveramsay medal for an outstanding continuing contribution to the programme was awarded to broadcaster Jock Gallagher, and the Dunblane medal for an outstanding contribution in the current season was presented by guest of honour Dr Jim Swire to Milena Tupadlo of Registers of Scotland.

The finalists were:
Caoimhe Gavin, Forfás; Elizabeth Goodwin, VSO UK; Matthew Harper, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust; Michelle Howard, West Lindsey District Council; Gillian McMahon, Mary's Meals; Matthew Nobbs, Welsh Government; Kieran O'Brien, UNICEF Ireland; Stephanie Pitticas, Glasgow Caledonian University; Alison Simmance, Cefas; Inna Taylor, Ofsted; Anita Toolan, Department of Justice and Equality

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