Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last night, the families presented their submission to Deputies and Senators across the country. They have clearly demonstrated the solutions that will be required to turn around so many people's lives. Those families should not have had to do all that work. Families should not have to protest or bare their hearts and souls and take journalists from up and down the country to their homes. None of that should have been required. I hope the Tánaiste will take back what he said yesterday because it was completely wrong. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is from Inishowen, which is also at the epicentre of this. He is a Fianna Fáil Minister, as are the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform, and Housing, Local Government and Heritage and, of course, the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin.

Collectively, they have the power to change what has been a nightmare into a moment of great hope in the weeks ahead. I appeal to the Minister to fully endorse that submission and deliver the change our families need along the west of Ireland.

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