Victor Boyhan (Independent)

It promotes Irish horticulture, which I also continue to promote in this House. In the area of horticulture, I also acknowledge the wonderful work of the National Botanic Gardens. This is a wonderful horticultural gem, where I was a student many years ago. The gardens are free for everyone to visit, and I ask people to go there. I request a debate on horticulture because it is important, particularly in the context of ornamentals and fruit and vegetable production.

I give thanks to Sharon Devlin, the creative director of Tallaght Community Arts, who came to the audiovisual room yesterday at my invitation for a film presentation. Many of the Senators will have missed it, but what a treat we had. The film was entitled "We Will Not Sit Down and Be Quiet", and how moving and inspiring it was. The audiovisual room was packed to capacity, with more than 40 advocates present. These were people who lived in institutional care and shared their personal experiences and stories. It is a most moving film. The participants spent more than two hours here and met with several politicians afterwards to advance what they call their human rights, the dignity they want to be afforded to them and the independence to enable them to live in communities. I am circulating this film today to every Member of the House. I strongly encourage everyone to have a look at it and, possibly, to engage and go back to the organisation. Big thanks go to Councillor Alan Edge, who facilitated, organised and initially thought up the idea and suggested we bring it to these Houses, and to Sharon Devlin, creative director of Tallaght Community Arts. It was an amazing and moving day. I urge everyone to have a look at this film.