Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy spoke about social responsibility. One of the most important tools is compassion. In the delegates' presentation it was mentioned that the subject could be incorporated into social, personal and health education, SPHE, classes. As legislators, we want to bring what we hear to a meaningful level in order that it can be introduced in law. That might mean that we have to discuss the issue at the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs or with the Department of Education and Skills to see if it should be part of the curriculum and have a platform. I very much advocate for the appointment of a digital safety commissioner who would help to protect everybody online. However, we might be waiting some time for that measure to be enforced. Perhaps, based on how Deputy Timmy Dooley is approaching the issue, it might not take too long, but sometimes things take a long time to come to fruition. However, as we cannot afford to wait around, we have to find ways to empower schools and young people. The delegates are a classic example that empowerment. They are also empowering the younger classes coming through and creating a forum in which to have a conversation and provide knowledge. They are leaders for many others who are watching the proceedings of the committee this morning, showing how it can be done. Everyone can take ownership and control within his or her own school. The report was carried out by Comhairle na nÓg. I really liked how it carried out its surveys by going out and interviewing people. That helps to provide the database we, as politicians, need to support the necessary changes.

The maturity of the content and the professional quality of the presentations are on a par with those made by everyone else who has come before us in the past few weeks. They are professionals and this is what they do. The delegates are students and they reached that high level. The presentations were excellent and will be up on the Oireachtas website later when people will be able to see them. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, ISPCC, has already been tweeting about the presentations we have heard. What the delegates are doing has been noticed and is invaluable and I have to praise them for it. If they were in our position, what would they ask us to do, as legislators? I am hung up on the idea of having a digital safety commissioner, but what would they suggest? Does Ms Reynolds have suggestions for me, for example, on monitoring and how students are supported in education? Some 40,000 books were provided, but the delegates probably did not get them in their schools. They are fantastic books, but 40,000 is not enough to have one for everyone in the audience. I received one and it is fabulous. Everybody, particularly in first year, should get one at school. What would the delegates suggest?