Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Two days ago I spoke about the price of tickets for the match between Ireland and Portugal this evening. I am glad to say that the FAI has capitulated and refunded the difference between the cost of a ticket for a child and a ticket for an adult in terms of the person of whom I spoke. That is really good news. I referred to the company that sold the tickets online but it still has not replied to either myself or the individual. Of course, we all wish the Irish team well tonight.

Last night, I watched a recording of the documentary entitled "The Missing Children" that was aired on television on Tuesday night. The programme was shocking, horrific and showed us how the State failed many times to protect these vulnerable souls and the survivors. The documentary tells the story of the incredible work done by Catherine Corless and her discovery of death records for 796 babies and infants. By now the story is well known and I know that the area concerned is geographically close to where the Acting Leader is from. I am confident that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, is acting on this matter but we, in this House, must send a very strong message. We must ask the Government to make it a priority to exhume the remains and afford these innocent souls the dignity that they did not have in their short lives or, indeed, in their deaths.

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the launch of the Irish Thoroughbred Country Destination Experience Development Plan by the mayor of Kildare, Mr. Naoise Ó Cearúil, and the mayor of Tipperary, Ms Marie Murphy. The horse has been an integral part of Ireland's cultural and sporting heritage for the past 2,000 years. Ireland is internationally recognised throughout the world for its equine industry and horse breeding so it is important that we develop all that. The plan is five years in duration and has a vision to deliver the world's best collective thoroughbred experience for both domestic and international tourism. The initiative is headed up by Ms Laura Magee and spearheaded by Mr. Cathal Beale, the manager of the National Stud. I wish them well and encourage people to visit the counties of Kildare and Tipperary, and to see this plan for themselves.

Finally, I wish to mention a fascinating and fantastic project that the Kildare Chamber of Commerce undertook with sponsorship from Intel. The chamber of commerce availed of an app called Ducky and invited companies to join so that their employees can log how they will reduce their carbon footprint. I am glad to say that in two weeks employees have sequestered almost 10 tonnes of CO2. Basically, companies can log on and record activity. The app encourages people to walk or avail of public transport to get to work, to take a shorter shower, etc. We should adopt a similar initiative in Leinster House as 1,300 people work here, including Members of the Dáil and the Seanad. Such an initiative would encourage all of us to make a personal difference in terms of our fight against climate change.