Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My apologies for missing the opening statements. I was speaking in the Dáil Chamber. I came in towards the end of the comments of my colleague, Senator Blaney. He was emphasising the importance of communication between young people North and South. It is the way to go to build a better society and a better Ireland. We all want to see that achieved in future.

In the very bad days on this island prior to the peace process, I was involved to some extent with the Wider Horizons programme, which was funded by the International Fund for Ireland. Our colleague in the Oireachtas, Senator Diarmuid Wilson, in his role as Youthreach co-ordinator for County Cavan, was instrumental in implementing a number of different programmes under the Wider Horizons programme. Young people from Northern Ireland and this State often went on trips abroad to meet counterparts in the United States, Canada and Australia. Great friendships were established that have lasted to this day. It was about working together. That programme was led by Youthreach, which offers second chance education, and also the Foróige movement, which does so much good.

I remember speaking to a prominent member of the loyalist community who told me about the value he saw in the Wider Horizons programme. He told me of one very young person from a very strong loyalist family, some of whom had been involved in violence unfortunately and who would have seen nothing good about this State in the past, who had participated in the Wider Horizons programme. Not alone is he now happily married in this State, but he is a coach in Gaelic games, in football and hurling, and a powerful advocate for the GAA. That has not taken away from his beliefs in the past but it shows what communication, working together and having the opportunity to mix can do for the betterment of society and individuals.