Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Religious leaders of all faiths are working overtime in this country at the moment. They do enormous work in helping the vulnerable, members of the Travelling community, victims of human trafficking, those in prison, those who are homeless, those with addictions, those who are grieving and so on, and in terms of integration and working with many in our migrant communities. They must, however, be better supported by the Government. I always find it very interesting to watch many within the political establishment, who are so hostile to those of the Catholic faith in particular, rely heavily on those religious people to pick up the tab in areas of Government neglect.

I take the opportunity to pay tribute to a nun, a Columban sister whom I know in Navan. At the age of 94, Sr. Catherine Lillis received the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award from the Ceann Comhairle. She has worked in missionaries in Myanmar, Hong Kong and Egypt. Her hope, in her old age, is to extend the addiction treatment centre she founded in Navan so it can treat women as well as men. She is a mighty woman who has done wonders for the town of Navan. There is an awful lot that politicians in this House could learn from her. What steps is the Government taking to help and support religious leaders of all faiths in the great work they are doing throughout the country?

See this speech in context