Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said earlier, every Irish family is thinking about the families of the students who were killed so tragically in Berkeley yesterday and the families of those who were injured. In that context, it is important that the national Parliament reflect the sense of deep grief and sadness felt across the country and overseas where Irish communities reside.

It is also important that the Parliament would adjourn for a period as a mark of respect to the deceased and as an important demonstration of solidarity with their families, friends and communities. It is a demonstration of solidarity with the young people of our country as well. The J1 programme is essentially a programme for young people. It brings to mind opportunity, a summer of fun and happiness, the beckoning of new eras, relationships and so forth. That is why it has such a resonance among young people in this country and overseas and among those who were on J1 programmes in the past and who will be on them in the future. It is important that our Parliament reflects that and has the capacity to show understanding and empathy with our young people who are grieving at the consequences of yesterday's tragedy.

It is an exceptional tragedy in the sense that it brings to mind the unique relationship between Ireland and the United States, which has had different manifestations down through the decades and centuries. As the US ambassador so eloquently put it, the J1 programme in the modern era is perhaps the essential ingredient of the continuing nurturing and flourishing of the unique relationship between Ireland and the United States. It is important that our Parliament reflects that.

Déanaim comhbhrón do thuismitheoirí na ndaoine óga a bhfuair bás inné. Tá an náisiún faoi bhrón. Is ceart agus is cóir go léireodh an Dáil é sin go soiléir. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

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