Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I must say I am genuinely blown away by the scope of the presentation and the various elements covered as well as the innovation shown in terms of campaigning and the recommendations thereon. We constantly deal with major problems in the public sphere and challenges in the State but every now and again one is pleasantly surprised in politics when one least expects it. I found the presentation inspirational. It gives me much excitement as to what the future holds for this country to see young women of such calibre make an outstanding presentation.

I wish to indulge the students. Ms O’Shea quoted William Wilberforce.

I am from Buncrana, County Donegal, which is at the extreme other end of the country. The students will be familiar with the hymn, "Amazing Grace", the first lines of which are:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.

I promise I am going somewhere with this story, because the Chairman will cut me short otherwise, but the man who wrote that hymn many years ago was called John Newton, who himself was involved in the slave trade at the time. He was a wretch, as the hymn would suggest. In any event, he was on board a ship called the Greyhoundwhich got into difficulties off the coast of Donegal when it hit a huge storm. Miraculously, the ship got through the storm and found its way into Lough Swilly, which is right beside Buncrana. They found shelter and took a few days there and eventually, John Newton turned his entire life around. He became a huge champion of the campaign to end the slave trade and was a mentor for William Wilberforce. I consider William Wilberforce to be the greatest parliamentarian who ever lived but he is internationally renowned as the man who campaigned and started the beginning to the end of slavery as it was at that time. I like to believe that Ireland and John Newton were the influences for the beginning of that turning around. I wished to share with the witnesses that Ireland has a big part in the story of William Wilberforce and so on.

However, the challenge continues, as there is modern-day slavery. Although a huge advance was made in the time of William Wilberforce, modern-day slavery persists. It is hidden, not open, as people are not brought in through the ports and openly sold. The practice is hidden, comes in through the airports and works its way through businesses. However, the recommendations made by the students are practical and logical and were they implemented, would make a huge difference in taking on this insidious industry. Once again, this was a really inspirational presentation and I thank them so much for lifting my spirits today.