Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the people of Creeslough and the broader community in Donegal on the terrible tragedy that struck their community on what was otherwise, until then, a normal Friday afternoon, on 7 October, just a month ago. Even a month on, it is still unbelievable for all of us to recall just how suddenly and brutally ten lives were lost on that day. The names of those who perished have been read into the Dáil record. Those lives lost were James O'Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Catherine O'Donnell, James Monaghan, Hugh Kelly, Leona Harper, Martina Martin, Robert Garwe and Shauna Flanagan-Garwe. Many other lives were severely affected, many others were badly injured and many families will carry the wounds of the explosion and the disaster for years to come.

Like others, I pay tribute to the emergency services, the heroic first responders and the volunteers and professionals who did so much in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and in the days and weeks since. Clearly, however, the hurt and pain and the loss caused will be with the area long after the physical debris is removed and the physical damage repaired or demolished, even after survivors have been physically healed. We are all conscious that the Garda investigation into what exactly happened is still ongoing. We have seen experts from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Analysis Service and Technical Bureau involved. I understand that a specialist company from outside Ireland has been hired to assist. It is good to see such collaboration and interagency work.

I am sure all of us want to urge a speedy resolution. Hopefully, some answers will be forthcoming that may provide some sense of why this happened to those so badly affected. Even definitive conclusions cannot help address the trauma of such a random explosion that robbed so many people of their futures - women, men and children. The question of "what if?" may always be there in the back of all our minds. The one thing that may come out of any report of the investigation is that there might be recommendations that could be applied to prevent similar terrible events or incidents reoccurring.

As the glare of public attention moves on and the families and the community deal with their grief and loss in the privacy so many are seeking, we must ensure the community receives all the assistance necessary to recover as best it can and to rebuild some of what was lost. Ongoing mental health and counselling supports and resourcing for communities will be needed. Healing can take place in a number of other ways. We have seen reports of joy like the local St. Michael's GAA u-13 side winning the division 2 cup final last Sunday week, which gave people in the area a much-needed lift. We have also seen enormous generosity from people here and around the world with significant resources and support funds collected. Undoubtedly, public investment in the community will be needed to help people find positive ways forward.

The strength of the local community has been severely tested but it has shown its collective meitheal in the days and weeks since the terrible explosion. In the months and years ahead, we must ensure that the families affected and the local community continue to be supported and to receive any necessary State and public supports in recognition of their needs.

The loss so suddenly of so many loved ones on such a scale has been unprecedented in our country in recent years. As we enter the dark days of winter, our thoughts, sympathies and solidarity will remain with the people of Creeslough as they continue to live with the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.

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