Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome all the witnesses before the committee. I thank them for coming in. As they will know, we are the education committee and we are trying to look to see what recommendations we should make to improve mental health supports in school. That is the function of what we are doing here. That is why it is so important we hear their side of the argument. This should be a very happy time in their lives. It is a great time going through school and, afterwards, college and it is a time they should all enjoy. Obviously, that makes it all the more important that we ensure that if people do have mental health challenges, which can happen, and there is nothing wrong with a mental health challenge, the supports are there.

Having said that, I am interested to hear from the students from Coláiste Bhríde in Wicklow. I was interested to hear what Ms Sheppard said about physical education. When I was growing up, physical education was not emphasised that much and was not given huge recognition. What does Mr. Rawson think? Does he get involved in sports? Does he think it should be emphasised more in school?