Ms Caitlin Thompson:

Good morning, a Chathaoirligh, committee members, Senators and fellow young people here today. My name is Caitlin Thompson and I have a voice. We, the young people sitting in the Seanad, have voices, important voices, and our voices deserve to be listened to. I want to talk about the significance of our being here today, including our voices in this discussion about Ireland's constitutional future and ensuring we continue to have an influence on the processes that could radically affect our future and the future of this island.

Ireland has come a long way since the days when it was the case that "children should be seen and not heard". Young people's presence in the Seanad Chamber today compounds just how archaic that statement is. It shows how much we have evolved from those traditional, limiting and conservative views from our parents' and grandparents' times.

I speak from my experience when I say that young people today are inclusive and accepting and demonstrate immense generational development. We focus on treating all people as people. These values are all needed in decision-making, political conversations and the question of constitutional change and a possible united Ireland. As young people, we are part of the solution because we see the world through the proverbial youth-coloured glasses. We are important for what we bring to the table today, not just when we are older and in positions of leadership then. In fact, young people are ideally placed to play a leading role in this conversation here and now.

I am fortunate to have the invaluable opportunity to act as youth observer to the board of directors of Foróige, elected by my peers around the country. This experience is instilling in me a deep understanding of the inner workings of the organisation. It contributes to my development through building my skills, such as confidence, communication and critical thinking, but is also positive for Foróige, making it more inclusive and future-forward by having young people represented and able to influence the organisation's direction at this high level.

I acknowledge that there are many young people who may not always have the opportunity to have their voices heard. It is for that very reason that it is important to enlist other young people to act as advocates for their peers and to make sure we give opportunities and support to young people from all walks of life to participate in order that youth voices are included in the decision-making processes of important political decisions that affect our future. What could have a greater impact than the decision process of Ireland's constitutional future or the chance of a united Ireland? Young people, time and time again, display our stellar ability to take the initiative and to do our research on topics that matter to us such as climate change, social injustice and so forth. This ensures we have a level of understanding and allows us to speak factually on issues that affect not only us but all of society. Our pursuit of issues that we care deeply about highlights our ambition to be included in and to meaningfully influence the decision process. Perhaps this means allowing young people to vote at the lower age of 16. We are passionate about building a future that is fair and just for all.

In recent years, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has supported young people's voices, as seen through Comhairle na nÓg and the initiatives around youth participation in decision-making. This has led to real change for young people such as the comhairle executive's successful campaign for a youth travel card. This highlights how a positive relationship between young people and decision-makers at a local and a national level can contribute to forward-thinking change, but all are striving to achieve a common goal. As the old Irish saying goes, ní neart go cur le chéile: we are stronger together.

I invite the committee members to take a look around the Seanad Chamber today. The faces they see are the future of our island. The decisions made today and tomorrow are decisions that will ultimately alter and shape our lives. If we do not encourage and engage our young people to participate in our democracy, we risk an Ireland where young people are enticed abroad by better financial and lifestyle opportunities and where they feel more valued. There is no more important decision that could affect young people's future than the possibility of a change to the island itself. The way that young people experience Ireland, North and South, will be different from the experiences of older people, and the history and memories they have will shape their perspective. A nation that does not listen to my voice, the voices of the youth, is a nation without a future. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí: encourage the youth and they will get there. I thank the committee for listening to my voice today.