Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will contribute now. If anybody else would like to come back in, they should feel free to do so. We will finish at 2 p.m. I thank our guests. I completely agree with many of the things they have said. It is important to hear from young people. I know it can seem frustrating to some. I agree, in particular, with Ms Dunne about COP, which sometimes feels like a talking shop. However, I do not think we can overestimate the importance of politicians hearing what people think. We go around canvassing so we meet a lot of people outside of these surroundings. I was struck during the most recent election campaign by somebody telling me at their door that do not think they will vote. They were in their 40s and told me they do not vote. At another door was someone who was turning 18 a few days after the election, who was devastated they would miss that opportunity. I thought if only I could give the vote of the person in their 40s to that person who was almost 18. The almost 18-year-old was committed and --