Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up where Deputy Gannon has left off. For nearly 20 years, I was a professional youth worker and a hoodie was my uniform. I thought today would be a very important day to don that uniform again. In the same way that I have tried to defend and advocate on behalf of young people who are all too often on the receiving end of negative stereotyping and rhetoric, it feels right that I wear this hoodie.

If Deputy Gogarty had spent with children and young people throughout this country a fraction of the time I have spent with them in the last 20 years, he would never have considered putting pen to paper to produce the biggest heap of nonsense I have seen. I am beyond disappointed to see the Government and some in opposition supporting the idea of curfews, fines for parents and seizing PlayStations and Xboxes, as if that would achieve something. Frankly, it is utter nonsense. Who is Deputy Gogarty trying to represent when he comes up with this? He does not know what he is talking about. He has, on purpose, chosen to conflate antisocial behaviour and crime. If someone commits a crime, there is a clear statutory process; however, if passed, the Deputy's motion would simply reduce young people's rights and freedoms. I dare him to volunteer in his local youth club or youth service and to spend some time with children and young people rather than talk about them like he knows what he is talking about. They will tell him they are sick and tired of being stereotyped, sick and tired of this rhetoric.

They are paid a sub-minimum wage and cannot access mental health services. These are the issues that matter. I cannot believe the Government is not amending the motion. I am shocked.

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