Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will confine myself to the accusations made against me and not the substance of what Deputy O'Reilly had to say with which I would obviously disagree. Regarding Termination for Medical Reasons, not only was I here for the entire formal presentation but I spoke to the representatives outside before going in and I passed them a note explaining that I had to leave.

I had to drive to Enniskillen that night and I arrived at midnight. It is most unfair of Deputy Louise O'Reilly to go second-guessing who attended what session. If we were to start that, we would be here all night. I must have been one of the best attenders throughout and the implication that I was not in touch with their particular story is utterly unjust, but also personalised in a way that I have always tried not to be.

The second issue is the serious allegation of intimidation of witnesses. First, my preference for sitting here is my own business. I have been around Leinster House a long time compared with Deputy Louise O'Reilly. Those who have been around as long as I have would be able to reassure her that I am not the intimidating kind. It was never proposed by her that there should be any limitation on the seating arrangements, but since I was again judged in such a personal way, and accused in such a personal way - this is the politics of demonisation from the Sinn Féin Deputy - I can say that was a serious allegation. One would not deny that.