Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have to apologise. I have amendments to legislation going through the Seanad so I have to go up and do that. It was lovely to meet everyone. I am very sorry. I had a parent in with me and I just could not leave. When I was in the Army, we had 18-year-old soldiers. We used to drop them off at the checkpoints in south Lebanon at night. We would leave them there for 12 hours and say that if they were hit up from the direction of Hezbollah, fire a green flare, and if they were hit from the Wadi Saluki, which is the Israeli side, fire a red flare. They were 18, and not a bother on them. They thrived; they loved it. They got a tan as well. I do not know how they did it. I know, therefore, that we have and inhabit a society now that is very patronising towards young people. They are disempowered. They should be in here every day. They should be on every committee. They would ask better questions. We should lower the voting age to at least 16. I wish our guests the very best of luck. I know many of them are doing their junior certificate and leaving certificate examinations. I thank them for coming in here today.