Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

I, too, express my sincere sympathy to the family, friends and wider community of the five young people who tragically lost their lives in an horrific traffic accident in Dundalk last Saturday night. My thoughts are especially with the families of 23-year-old Chloe McGee and 21-year-old Shay Duffy, both from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, and the families of 23-year-old Dylan Commins from Ardee, Alan McCluskey from Drumconrath in County Meath and 21-year-old Chloe Hipson from Scotland. I can only imagine the sense of loss and devastation those poor families are feeling at the moment. I express a special word of thanks to the first responders, the gardaí, the paramedics and fire service personnel who attended the scene. I think about them too because I am sure that scene will stay with all of them for many a long day to come. I also think of the three people who were injured and wish them a speedy recovery.

If I may, I will go back to the families. The country is numb at this moment in time but the country will have to move on. Life can sometimes be cruel and throw a grenade at us. Those five families have now been handed a life sentence they will have to live with every day of their lives from here on out. If it is in order, I propose that the House stand for a moment's silence as a small token of our solidarity with the five families to let them know, in a small way, that we are thinking about them and that they will be in our prayers, not just in the days to come but in the weeks and years ahead. As I have said, they have been handed a life sentence. On behalf of all Members of the House, I would just like to let the families know we are thinking about them at this hugely difficult time. We will pray for them in the many tough days that lie ahead.