Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with other speakers who yesterday paid tribute to that wonderful teenager, Donal Walsh, who unfortunately died over the weekend. In particular, his appearance on "The Late Late Show" was a great inspiration to many people. His work in regard to suicide displayed tremendous courage, faith and hope from somebody who realised he was terminally ill. It is very difficult and nobody knows how they would react if they were in that situation. It must be very easy to focus inward because of one's own personal predicament. The fact he had such commitment to the common good, which superseded his own predicament, is a tremendous tribute to himself and his family. I know others have expressed their admiration and their sympathy with his family, as I would wish to do.

One of the initiatives which the Leader undertook in this Seanad was the introduction of public consultation. A report was issued in recent days which surveyed the unemployment situation in each county. I am minded to raise this because youth unemployment in my county of Wexford is at an appalling level of 47%, which is terrible for those caught in that situation. I ask the Leader to look at innovative ways, perhaps through public consultation, where we could engage with all interested parties and come forward with some measure that would really address this issue. While the Government is making efforts and the previous Government took initiatives, this is not as effective as it needs to be, given the major issue unemployment has become. Socially and in every other way, including in regard to health, it is having grave implications for society, particularly for those caught up in it. If we did nothing but focus on that issue, we would be serving the State well.

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