Mr. Leo Galvin:

A Chathaoirligh, a bhaill den choiste agus a chairde go leir. Is onóir mór é a bheith anseo inniu chun labhairt libh. Over the course of this year, the European Year of Youth, young people across Europe have been given a voice. It is a long-awaited chance to have a large scale input on European policy and legislation. Having attended several of these consultative events, I must say that the energy was electric. There was a feeling of "Oh my, the European Union wants our opinion!" It was an incredible once-off opportunity but what if it was not a once-off? What if the young people of Ireland were consulted more? What if the decisions the European Union makes had the input of young people more often? Day in, day out decisions are made and many of them affect young people's lives. As we sit in our homes and schools, the desire to have our say is growing. Organisations such as Comhairle na nÓg, SpunOut, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, ISSU, and many more have the aim of allowing young people to voice their concerns. From lowering public transport costs for every young person in Ireland to gaining a seat on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, their achievements have been earned through years of work. This clearly demonstrates that young people want a say and an input into the decisions that affect them.

The Schuman Declaration, which we are here today to celebrate, has inevitably led us to this point. A coal and steel community became a legislative and policy-forming coalition where everyone has a say. The benefits of this have been felt throughout the decades as it responded to the problems voiced by its members, especially in Ireland.

Many young people would not be here without the EU's open border policy, finding jobs that can sustain them abroad. I certainly would not be here if my mother had not been able to work in Ireland when she moved here from France. Many young people take public transport, which relies on funding from the EU. Motorways, railways and even infrastructure were built with EU funds, not to mention the transport schemes in rural areas. Even the clothes I wear today would not have made it into the EU without the many trade agreements the Union has made across the world.

Gabhaim buíochas as aird comhaltaí an choiste agus tá suil agam gur bhain siad luach as an méid a bhí le rá againn inniu. I will leave members with the words of Seamus Heaney, "The next move is always the test".