Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know. He and people like him do so much for Irish society by bringing people together. May he rest in peace.

I acknowledge also the quality of the debate among the young people who were in the Chamber today. It was absolutely fantastic. Anyone who missed it should tune in to look at the substance that was there. It is something which is often absent from debates not only in the Chambers in the Oireachtas but in chambers across the world. I acknowledge the work of our chairperson, Senator Bacik, and my fellow committee members in that regard. Anyone who doubted that people of 16 years of age had the ability, awareness or analytical capacity to make decisions around voting should watch the debate. If they do, they will be left in no doubt of the huge contribution young people can make to the decision-making process in Ireland.

I raise the issue of transport in the regions. I raise the matter here because I tried to table a Commencement matter on route No. 52, which is the bus route connecting Ballina in north Mayo to Galway, particularly to University Hospital Galway. A review is currently taking place, in which regard I raise the issue of the lack of consultation with people in the area who use the route and with those who use regional routes in general. I want the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the Chamber to have a proper discussion on connectivity and accountability regarding services and, indeed, his own accountability. It is not good enough to get a letter which says the Minister has no official responsibility. If he is Minister for transport, it is his responsibility and he needs to make sure he meets it. I ask that the Minister come to the House to discuss the matter further in circumstances where this route in particular is a vital link between north Mayo and University Hospital Galway. Those people who do not have access to other forms of public or private transport need the route to be left in place. It is a viable service and the Minister must look at it again in the context of rural transport. People in rural Ireland deserve a public transport system and the Minister must acknowledge that.