Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the Senators who spoke on the important issue of forced marriage. A High Court judge has said he believes the rules, regulations and laws in this regard need to be changed. The strategy document on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence contains only one reference to forced marriage in its 200 pages. It is only mentioned and there is absolutely nothing more about it. This is an important issue that we must examine in depth. We must consider culture and every other relevant factor, particularly the legal rights of children.

Today I speak about young people because Dublin has been chosen to host the One Young World summit next year. It is an important summit for young people. Approximately 2,000 of the world's young leaders will descend on Dublin for the major annual summit which is to focus on global problems. Dublin beat off competition from Singapore, Hong Kong and Edinburgh. The summit is to take place in Johannesburg this year and was held in Pittsburgh last year. Since the Leader has been so proactive in ensuring the Seanad is used for good debates and since so many young people will be in Dublin, I ask him to invite to the House those who bid for and are organising the summit, namely, Ms Clara Kelleher, Mr. Bob Collins and Ms Valerie McGrane, to discuss with an all-party group what they envisage for Ireland prior to the summit which will be worth at least €30 million to Dublin. We should recognise the work these individuals are doing. In listening to the voices of the youth, we can learn a lot. They have shown what they can do. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. Naoise O’Murray, has spoken about the matter.