Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask Members and the public, through the Leader, to advocate safety in our waters for the summer. The summer has not been great so far but unfortunately we hear of appalling tragedies with people jumping into lakes and into the sea in hot weather and not being aware of the dangers. I urge Irish Water Safety to redouble its efforts to ensure, through programmes of education and interaction with coastal communities, that we reduce the incidence of people being drowned. We say it every year but four or five times more people are drowned in our rivers and lakes and around our coasts and seas than are killed in farm accidents. I appeal to this House to sincerely request that people be cognisant of the dangers of water and the sea and not to take them for granted. I also hope the media will pick up on it.

I wish the Cathaoirleach, Members and all the staff a good recess, with time for reflection. I hope they come back with a new lease of life. I urge the Leader to indicate the date of the next general election. He was unable or unwilling to do so, but I hope we will see the Seanad into the new year. The Government has a mandate and should see out its full term. The general election should happen in the spring when everybody would be fully prepared for it. I wish everybody a good summer recess. They should be safe and careful and not get too much sun.