Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

Like other Senators, I commend the Independent group of Senators, especially Senator Coghlan, for introducing this important motion. I will start with a little story. Earlier this year, in September, I got involved in boxing, for a white collar boxing tournament. On the first night I found it very hard to get through the warm-ups without nearly collapsing, which is not something I am proud of. When I did PE in school, it was often centred around football or basketball - sports I had no interest in or natural affinity for - so I often sat it out, either with a note from my mother or a conveniently forgotten tracksuit. On that first night of boxing I felt the effects of having been completely sedentary during my adolescence and not having taken part in any physical activity. Since that night I have started to increase my physical activity because I have found something I enjoy. It is not football or basketball but boxing. It combines all sorts of physical activity and I am really enjoying it.