Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the culinary arts students at the Technological University Dublin, who do not have changing facilities. This is a significant concern given that we are talking about people operating in a kitchen environment and such a situation is not suitable for hygienic reasons. Equally, however, there are also questions here concerning student dignity. It is not acceptable to expect students to have to change in toilets and corridors. I submitted a query about this issue to the management of the university, and the matter has also been raised by the students union there and by the Ógra Fianna Fáil cumann. This situation was broached with the management of the university prior to the start of the academic year, but frankly I do not think it is acceptable for those students not to have the appropriate changing facilities, especially given the nature of the work in which they are engaged.

The second issue I wish to raise concerns a lovely story covered in today’s Gorey Guardianand syndicated on Independent.ie. I refer to an interview with a young actor, Jayson Murray, conducted by Cathy Lee. Jayson recently starred in a play in the Abbey Theatre entitled What I (Don't) Know About Autism. The production raised a great deal of awareness of the positive contribution made to society by people with autism. Jayson speaks in the interview about his own experience and the impact of the pandemic on people with autism. As our society recovers from the pandemic, we must indeed consider the impact it has had on those with autism. Jayson tells people to feel free to ask questions of people who have autism and to try to understand the condition, and the more awareness and engagement we can have, the better.