Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not say that to throw rose petals at our witnesses but because they are giving a different perspective that is important to be heard in this Chamber. It resonates with us because we are here regularly.

Important as all the contributions were, one thing that struck me was that every one of the speakers could have been from Dublin, Kerry, Galway, Cork or wherever because the experiences of young people right across this island are so similar. There is a societal appetite for a change for the better, whether in the context of the change we are discussing around our constitutional future or change in regard to the climate emergency, climate justice and our economy, and that appetite for change is being driven, in most instances, by young people. That really chimed with me.

I agree with Patrick that a huge amount of planning needs to be done. That planning should have started yesterday, last year or ten years ago but, as of now, it needs to start as soon as possible. Alongside that need for planning, there is the question of what is stopping us from doing the practical things now on this small island. Patrick is from Derry and will be aware of the nonsense whereby the Wild Atlantic Way stops at Donegal instead of continuing along the Causeway Coast and glens. Similarly, the route of Ireland's Ancient East stops in Louth and does not go up through south Armagh, to include all the mythology of Cú Chulainn, Downpatrick and its association with St. Patrick, and the north coast and the history of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. All of that is crazy.

The situation is likewise when it comes to the housing crisis. People could be facing a housing issue on one side of the Border and cannot avail of the social housing they need a couple of metres down the road on the other side of the Border. It is crazy. We have learned from the Covid crisis that viruses and science do not recognise borders. Why are we not doing much more around that and doing all of the things for which the witnesses are advocating? I would be keen to hear how, in the here and now, politicians and institutions of the State can collaborate better and more with young people. That type of collaboration is always helpful. It is brilliant to have Zac, a fellow east Belfast person, in the Chamber today. It helps the process of reconciliation to flow much better if, as Senator O'Reilly rightly said, we understand each other a bit more and we work together and collaborate.