Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I knew it was in the pipeline but I did not think it had happened that quickly. I would be delighted to attend.

I wish to refer back to something Senator Devine said about living in an area which down through the years has had its fair share of addiction problems, particularly in respect of young people and the families left behind. Any public representative, whether in Cork, Dublin, Limerick or elsewhere around the country, could relate to what she said about meeting young people particularly, and families that have been scourged by addiction. I refer to families and children who for whatever reason have been involved in very serious drug-related activity. Young children playing in parks and on streets raise health issues when, for example, they come across discarded needles, and this can have an effect on families. There was one such case last year in my constituency. A young lad playing ended up with a prick on his finger from a discarded needle. I understand the anxiety of parents in terms of what would happen if things did not turn out the way they did, but they turned out well enough in the end.

I will read a little from my notes. I know I have not answered some of the questions asked but I will come back to the Senators-----