Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am constantly reminded when I sit in this room of how privileged I am to be a member of the committee. I have repeated this a number of times but it is a fact. We sit here as public representatives but when we leave this room many of the groups which have made presentations to us have left an impression.

I need to make many notes because I have a head like a sieve. Ms Lacey and the other witnesses are welcome. I found Ms Lacey's words moving and uplifting. Knowing who one is inside is very important, no matter what one looks like on the outside, and this is something everyone can learn. I am sure the witnesses are aware that at present the committee is discussing the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. The section on suicidal tendency has openly divided members of my party and others in various groups. Listening to the presentation I was struck to hear 78% of the community have considered suicide because they feel different. This is an enormous figure and I was very disturbed to hear it.

The Chairman does not like me telling stories because he thinks I go on too long but I will keep this short and sweet. I grew up in a large family and I was a girl in the middle of boys. I was the tomboy on the road because I did not look for a doll or a pram but played cowboys and Indians and football out the back. I am still identified by many local people as a tomboy because I wear trousers and have short hair. For whatever reason I met a lovely boy who became a lovely man and who is now my husband. I have a handsome son and four lovely girls. When I meet people who are different, whether it is how they dress or look, I am reminded that inside of them there is a deep sense that who one is is who one is.

I visit various schools to speak to transition year students and I am amazed at the questions they throw at me about who they are and where they are going. I always state that being oneself is probably the most important thing any of us can be. I have great hope in the young people of the country. They are open and non-judgmental about the colour of one's skin or how one speaks or looks.

Ireland is in for a huge change in the coming years. It will be a different and better Ireland. We have started this change. We can see the difference that pupils from other countries make in a school. When I was growing up one looked at an atlas to see where Africa is, but now pupils sit beside somebody from Africa or elsewhere.

There is great hope, particularly given our young people. Sometimes we see them negatively but, from my experience in the community and of giving talks at schools, the situation is different. There is nothing wrong with being different. Whether we believe in the man above or not, we were all different when we were created. He broke the mould after every one of us. It is important that we each have our own identity.

I will not comment on what our guests have requested, as I have heard it from everyone. I am interested in reading poetry and books, although I am not an intellectual who sits with a book every night of the week. Usually, I leave here for home very late and read the first two pages, and my husband takes my glasses off in bed.