Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their excellent submissions and presentations. Regarding the Foróige submission, I had the pleasure of working with the organisation in Blanchardstown, specifically with Miriam Ryan and the team there. I am originally from Tyrone. I grew up in a house that was committed to youth work. We had a youth club. I did not have the same opportunities when I moved to Dublin. Therefore, I completely agree with what the submission states regarding youth work allowing people to focus not on differences but on commonalities. This aspect was fed back today in the presentations by saying there were no labels. We need to see more of this, in the North and between the North and South. We do not need to place too much pressure on it, because it will happen organically when we bring young people together and let them discuss issues collectively. I have seen that happen first-hand in Dublin 15.

I hope today is the day we start to move this conversation on from whether we want a united Ireland to the issue of the united Ireland we want. I agree completely with Eoghan that this is easier said than done. It was stated in the submission that young people are a massive part of this process and that they wish to be involved in the nitty-gritty, in discussing the issues and to be part of our journey in seeking how we can bring together the best of both jurisdictions, based on the values of peace and reconciliation. How do we ensure young people do not just engage in this conversation in a romantic sense? How do we ensure young people are part of the journey in exploring how we can make this happen? I say this because we need a framework for the great amount of work that will be involved in this endeavour.

I thank our guests for coming in today. It is an historic and momentous day for us, and I hope it is the day the conversation starts to move on and they are part of that.