Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There are just two things I would like to draw out from what Ms Ní Bhuachalla and Senator Clonan said. First, neoliberal capitalism was rightfully identified as the kind of ideology within which we live. Something Professor Peter Doran of Queen's University Belfast said to me once has really stuck me since. He said that the most successful ideologies were invisible. Very often, we cannot identify that we are living within a dominant ideology. One of the things this Bill could potentially do by stepping back and looking through a long lens, is allow us to step out of our ideology and begin to think about things in a much more comprehensive and long-term way. That is one of the things I would like to see an ombudsman or commission - whatever way we term it - of future generations being able to do.

The other critical thing Ms Ní Bhuachalla raised is that youth and future generations are two separate groups. While I absolutely agree there should be a youth voice within this commission - and the commissioner could play a very important role in facilitating a youth voice - the Ombudsman for Children already occupies that role. When I think of this legislation, I think of my kids. My eldest guy will turn 18 in 2030. He will still be young, but he will not be a child anymore. He will have achieved the age of majority. By the time we get to 2050, he will be the age I was when I started my family. This is the type of thinking in which we need to be involved in order that people who have not arrived at all yet have the opportunity to live in a sustainable future. It was interesting last week when officials from the Departments of the Taoiseach, the Environment, Climate and Communications and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth came before the committee. I did not know when I was drafting this Bill which Department it would land with, but we have to be careful not to confuse it as a voice for young people. Young people and future generations are two separate things. It is very much about, referencing something Ms Duffy said, giving a seat at the table, be that to young people or to those who have not arrived yet and who do not currently have a seat. That is what this Bill is designed to do.