Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support the call made by colleagues for a debate on homophobia. I was fortunate to see Rory O'Neill's "Noble Call" speech in the Abbey Theatre on Saturday night. As Senator MacConghail noted, there is a clip available on YouTube and I recommend it to those who have not seen it. The Senator also noted that this reflects the good side of social media. It was heart-rending to watch a man describe how he felt intimidated just standing at a bus stop. I recommend the YouTube clip as evidence of why everybody in this country should have free speech and why people should not be afraid to speak out. Senator MacConghail deserves to be commended for giving Rory O'Neill the opportunity to speak on Saturday night.

I too, raise the disturbing phenomenon known as "neknomination". This word first entered my vocabulary at the weekend as I had no idea what this frightening practice was previously. I commend the family of the young Carlow man, Jonny Byrne, who died at the weekend, specifically his father and brother, on speaking out and pleading so eloquently for the practice to stop. Given our relationship with alcohol, the need to engage and educate society on sensible and safe drinking practices has been a key theme in recent years. Neknomination is a game with real and serious consequences, as we saw in the cases of two young men at the weekend. If allowed to continue, the practice will claim more lives. I am concerned by the response of Facebook and other social media outlets which have stated there is nothing they can do. Much more can be done to stop this phenomenon. I commend the Union of Students of Ireland on the launch on Sunday last of its Break the Chain campaign, which calls on young people to stand up and break the chain by refusing to give in to peer pressure.