What election issues are important for young people in NI?

The most common answer was the health service.

Cara said it was a priority, while Sophie detailed she had recently visited a hospital and witnessed the extreme pressure on staff, which she described as “pure madness”.

Although the running of the health service is a devolved matter overseen by the Stormont Executive, rather than at Westminster, Sean said it was a “really big issue” for young voters.

James expressed worries that the law could change in future to permit assisted dying in the UK, while abortion rights were highlighted by Caoimhe.

She also touched upon the environment as a big consideration.

Elsewhere, Ryan highlighted the economy as being important for his vote.

Ashish, 19, from south Belfast, said it was important to fix issues in the economy due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

For John, it is foreign policy and defence near the forefront of his priority list.

Clodagh, meanwhile, said social media regulation was key and she believed hers is the last generation “to play outside”.

“What is the point in us sitting here voting in these elections and trying to create another world if children won’t look up at it?” she told BBC News NI.