Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, I was at the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, but when I learned the witnesses were here today, I wanted to come in and express our gratitude and solidarity for what they did last week. It came at a very good time in that it showed all three services and their value to Irish society and our European partnerships. It also underscored some of the lack of investment. I will not go into the detail of that because the witnesses know more about it than I do. There is growing concern not just among those of us who have a particular interest in Óglaigh na hÉireann but more broadly, and there is growing awareness of the crisis the organisation is in. We would like to give support and assistance in whatever way we can. I thank the witnesses for their resilience in the face of those challenges. I know the feeling of not being valued is a breach of the social contract. I thank the Chair for letting me come in. I wanted to express that solidarity.