As this is my first time to speak in the Seanad, I take the opportunity to congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach on their appointment. I also congratulate Senators Jerry Buttimer and Catherine Ardagh on their appointment as group leaders.

As stated by Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, today is Bloomsday. It is also the first anniversary of the tragic accident that occurred in Berkeley. We should remember those who died on that day and those who were seriously injured. There were six fatalities. Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke, Ashley Donohue, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan and Lorcán Miller died in the accident, while the many casualties, some of whom were seriously injured, included Jack Halpin, Clodagh Cogley, Aoife Beary, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters.

It is important to remember those who died or were injured and their families and friends. It was a very tragic day, particularly for the area I represent in Dún Laoghaire. I apologise to Senator Gerard P. Craughwell if I am being parochial, as it was a national tragedy which affected all of these young people who left Ireland for the summer on J1 visas to experience a different culture and earn some money before returning to college. Some of them did not make it back alive. It would be good for the House to remember them on this the first anniversary. It was a very dark day for south Dublin and the country in general.