We started with Senator Fitzpatrick, who spoke about the horrific tragedy of five young people being killed over the summer in a horrific car accident in which four innocent people were caught up. She spoke also about the need for provision of a national prevention strategy and said the Minister for education should take that on board. During the summer, I was at a presentation by a collective group of people about caring for communities. It sought to address some of these issues. It was a pilot study really because it was the first time it was done in Ireland. Four secondary schools had been surveyed, comprising students in first year, second year and fifth year. The study excluded exam students. There were, from memory, about 188 questions. It was about how those young people felt valued by the school community and family. It showed some important insights. I agree that we need to dig deep. Those five young men must have cared very little for their own lives to go on a journey like that, not to mention caring for other people's lives. As a society, we absolutely have to grapple with this. Education is the key and it starts at primary school. We will look for that.

Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about the approval for MetroLink and requested that we ask the Ministers for housing and transport to work with the LDA on the Carlton site to see what type of housing can be put there in the city centre. We will action that. The Senator also supported the suggestion from Deputy Séamus McGrath that we ask the Government to waive stamp duty for first-time buyers as an added financial incentive. We agree with and will support that.

Senator O'Donovan spoke about respite services in west Cork and the shocking situation there whereby 20 families have had to send legal letters. He mentioned a service provider there that apparently has a lot of funding, €5 million, in a bank account. There does not seem to be any action in relation to that.

The Senator also referred to the Before We Die campaign. I know it is something we all support. Senator Tully spoke about something similar. We will ask the Minister with responsibility for disability and the Minister for Health to look at that situation. It sounds shocking.

Senator Clonan welcomed Sophia, who I had a chance to say hello to, his intern until Christmas. Sophia is very welcome. Senator Clonan extended his sympathies to Senator Craughwell. A number of us had the opportunity to do that during the week. Senator Clonan spoke on the debate on citizenship, as did Senator Boyhan, and the extension of time. While we have been here, I have reached out to see if the Minister can give extra time because we would certainly facilitate that. There is no problem with that at this end but the response from the Minister’s office is that he cannot facilitate it due to being in the Dáil and some other commitments. We can engage further but at this point that is the response.

I appreciate that.