Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group in giving our sympathies and condolences to the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach. My contribution today is on a light note. Sometimes we can be quite local in here, but I am going to bring the discussion even closer and talk about my daughter, Jordanne. She is currently the lead in a film. I was coming through town today and I got to see her face plastered across a bus, which was a wonderful moment. It got me thinking about how she ended up there in the first place. It stemmed from a collaboration between Killinarden Community Centre and the director, Mr. Frank Berry, the creator of "Ballymun Lullaby", who then went on to make a community-based film on youth mental health. That created two amazing actors, one of whom went on to star in "Michael Inside" and won an Irish Film and Television Academy, IFTA, film and drama award for doing so. Jordanne is also award-winning and IFTA-nominated. It shows the importance of actors, directors, producers and people in the arts going into the hearts of communities that do not ordinarily have access to theatre schools or connections. It was a wonderful moment to see her on the bus. She is a young working-class woman with a huge passion and talent all her own. I wanted to acknowledge that the opportunity, though not her talent, originated from a director working directly with a community to unearth talent and give it a platform. I wanted to say that.