Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very important to state the case of which one is certain. I find the level of unhappiness and joylessness here fascinating. It appears that if one does not get the vote at 16 and 17 years of age, life will never be the same. In some ways there is a lack of joy here.

I say a resounding and echoing "No" to the vote at 16 and 17 years of age. It is fine at 18 years of age. Four or five years ago, some of those in the Gallery were 12 years of age. I am against the proposal.

I received lots of brilliantly written emails from many students during the week. I am not really interested in what happens in other countries. One of the greatest weaknesses is when we copy other countries. We should be entirely independent in the way we do things. We are also not a students' union and do not think like one. We are the Upper House of the Oireachtas and we have to think about the common good.

I suggest that students stay away from politics. It is quite sacrilegious of me to say that. I suggest that, instead, they should get on with the creative and imaginative things I know they are brilliant at and continue to get on with their education, travel, arts, romance, music, expression and sport.