I join everyone who has praised the Seanad Éireann transition year student challenge which we had this morning. It was a splendid occasion and credit is due to everyone associated with its organisation.

One discordant note was communicated to the Minister for Education and Skills by the heads of Irish universities. If I got the quote correctly, it was young people arrived in universities "not fit for purpose". I have the advantage over the heads of Irish universities in that I give lectures to freshmen and I do not recognise their caricature of undergraduates. External examiners tell us that the students are of the highest standard. The troika lectured to students during a visit and said they were splendid. I said none of them worked in the Department of Finance or banks. Attempts by bodies such as IBEC and the heads of Irish universities to denigrate young people do not add much to the scene and it is not confirmed by the evidence. Approximately 50 people, all adults, some in politics, others in senior public service, banking, building and property, brought the country to the state it is in today. It is unfair of any group in society to blame 18 year olds. They are the solution. They were splendid this morning, as you know, a Chathaoirligh. I will vote in favour of allowing 16 year olds to vote if the people we had in this morning are representative of young people in this country. Empire builders and public relations people in universities and IBEC do not seem to think when they make disparaging and snide remarks about the standard of young people in this country. I wish that to be recorded because the previous remark could not be corrected at the time it was made. The heads of Irish universities gave a wrong impression. Most of them have long left the lecturing hall and do not really know what is going on. The present generation is a credit to this country and their families.

Well said.