Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. At this stage I was going to say, "No, you are fine." I will be very brief. I want to congratulate all in attendance. They probably do not realise it, but this is a very historic day for each and every one of them. They are now all part of history. Senator Flynn is an amazing Chair. We have had very frank conversations here, but the beauty of this committee is that it is non-political. We are all part of it because we are extremely interested in doing the right thing. It is a rights-based issue. I do not think we have had a real argument in committee; it has been that good. I always have a habit of scanning a crowd. Looking around, I see many young people here. There are a few who are not so young, if that is the right term to use. If I could put this into a line, I would say to each and every person here that if they believe in themselves, there is zero that is impossible.

Some 20 years ago, I got into activism because of issues that happened in my life. I wanted to change them, because the system was not supporting families that were affected. My background is mental health and I am well aware of the rates of suicide within the Traveller community and all communities. That is what brought me into politics. Even one individual can change things, but when you work as a group, as we have done on this committee, you can change a lot more.

I would never judge a person. Who are we to look down on somebody else? How dare anybody look down on anybody else? Each and every one of us has feelings. Everyone here and everyone outside this bubble, as I call it, deserves the exact same level of respect, but also deserves an open, listening ear. I love to see so many young people. Young people are normally spoken down to by their peers. I normally speak a lot faster because I am from Cork, but I slowed down for this. A trick I learned is that sometimes we have to just sit back, keep our mouths shut, listen to the young people and listen to the older generation about their lived experiences. That is how you thrash out the issues and find out what is going wrong. Many Deputies mentioned the accommodation issue. The cost levels are absolutely disgraceful. We have argued a lot about that. It is not good enough. We cannot be sectioning people off. We are all the same. We all live under one banner. We all live under one flag.

We all get people coming up to us and giving out about X, Y and Z. The first question I will ask them is whether they voted. They will ask me what they would be voting for, because politicians are all the same. I tell them that if they have not voted, they technically have no right to complain because it is their own fault. If you want to change things, you have to vote to change.

We heard some of the speakers here saying that it is a stone mad process inside here. I apologise for being late. I also have another place to be at 1.15 p.m. and another meeting at 1.30 p.m. Then I will be back again.

The important thing to say is, "Do vote." Make sure your voices are being heard. If you are not happy then you have the right to complain and the right to come to Deputies and Senators to say, "You are not doing the job right for me. This is what I want." We have to listen to you. I am very proud to be part of this committee. I sat on committees at Cork County Council many years ago but this is a special committee. We are here together, all of us, to work on your behalf. You are the most special people inside here today and each and every one of you should be so proud because you are the very first group that I have seen in the Seanad, ever in my life, that is now making change from today. I would just ask that when you leave here today you do not say, "We had a great day today and that it is it; it is finished." Keep coming back into us. Keep getting at the committee. Tell us what is wrong and we will try to fix it, the whole group together. I thank the Chair for her patience.