Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As this is my first time to speak in the Seanad I take this opportunity to congratulate the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach on their appointments. I also congratulate Senators Buttimer and Ardagh on their appointments as group leaders.

As stated by Senator Higgins, today is Bloomsday. It is also the first anniversary of the tragic accident that occurred in Berkeley last year. As a House, we should remember those who died on that day and those who were seriously injured. There were six fatalities, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke, Ashley Donohue, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan and Lorcán Miller and many serious casualties, including Jack Halpin, Clodagh Cogley, Aoife Beary, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters.It is important to remember those who died or were injured and their families and friends. It was a very tragic day last year, particularly for the area I represent in Dún Laoghaire. I apologise to Senator Craughwell if I am being parochial but it was a national tragedy for all these young people who left Ireland for the summer on J1 visas to experience a different culture and earn some money before returning to college. Some of them did not make it back alive. It would be good for this House to remember that on the anniversary, as the day was very dark for south Dublin and the country in general.