Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everybody back. I think this is going to be an interesting term, if not an exciting one as well. I extend my sincere sympathies to the family of Robert Deegan, who was killed in battle last Thursday in Ukraine. Robert lived in Athy but he spent his youth in Newbridge, living in The Oaks where he went to the local Patrician Secondary School. I knew Robert. He was involved in the campaign to get a skate park in Newbridge. This was a project I championed and I met many young people around the town regarding it. Robert was a very fine young man. We eventually got the skate park, due in no small measure to Robert and his friends. Robert was a former member of the Army Rangers and was the youngest ever to qualify for this elite unit. The military background is very strong in his family. Both his brother and his dad were in the Army. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robert's parents, Rachel and John, and with his wider family and friends.

Last week, many of us had the opportunity to go to the National Ploughing Championships. We were blessed with incredible weather this year. I have to give a shout-out to all the organisers, particularly Anna May McHugh. It was such a wonderful microcosm of Irish rural life in particular. I met many young people and students from Dublin who came down and really enjoyed it. We extend our gratitude to Anna May and the team for a terrific experience.

If the summer in Kildare was defined by anything for me, it was by, sadly, the illegal encampments in the Curragh. I spoke about them prior to the recess but things have only got worse. I received a lot of photographs showing the waste that was spread all around the Curragh and the damage done to local sporting facilities.The day before yesterday I saw a photograph of a beautiful small dog whose leg was very badly damaged by glass and rubbish on the Curragh. It had to be brought to the vet and have surgery immediately. It is an ongoing issue and needs to be dealt with as a priority.

The last issue I will mention is South Kildare Schools Smartphone Alliance. I had the pleasure of attending the launch last week. Some 15 schools have come together in south Kildare and parents have adopted a voluntary code on their children not having smartphones, which thereby supports other parents who may feel under peer pressure. It is a wonderful project. I wish it well and I hope others will join.