Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will keep it very short. I thank the representatives for their contributions. We need their voice, as my colleague has said. The issues that we are talking about here today impact young people enormously. Sometimes we in Government Buildings live in a bubble. We are nearly institutionalised. I may be repeating myself but this is why it is so important that the witnesses are here today, and talking in particular about basic human rights for children. It is vital that we really bring that to the fore and prioritise it. It really impacted me to hear that young people are not aware of their human rights. There is something not right with that. Where is that coming from? Why is it not made a priority? Why are the adults not making it a priority? I thank the witnesses for raising these issues.

Ms Lynch's presentation was powerful. Young people, particularly in the North, have a multitude of challenges. As my colleague Senator Ó Donnghaile has said, I would definitely love to hear more. It is shocking to think that 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, people are still afraid to walk down the street because of issues related to the conflict and the problems the witnesses have spoken about today. That is really shocking and it is not as it should be. I support my colleague in trying to organise a trip to north Belfast to hear the voices of young people.

I said that I would not talk for very long, but I have a few more points to make. The polls say that younger people are more likely to favour constitutional change. I am raising this as a general question. The witnesses may or may not choose to answer it. Ms Myers mentioned a forum. I would love to hear a little more about that forum and how she would see it happening.

Ms Clyde referred to apprenticeships. There is no doubt that in the North and in the Republic, we lose many bright, young and ambitious people. What can we do to stop losing young people? How do the representatives believe we can encourage more young people? Apprenticeships are so important. It is like the heart of our culture and of what goes on. What can we do to encourage more people to go into apprenticeships? What can we do in general to stop this brain drain?

Do the witnesses believe that constitutional change would create new opportunities for their generation? That is the question I would like to ask today. I thank all of those who have made wonderful presentations.