Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At 3.18 p.m. on 7 October 2022, a moment happened that will be etched into the souls of the people of Donegal for generations. Ten people going about their daily routine had their lives cut short in an event that spread across the world. The lives of young Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her dad Robert Garwe, Catherine O’Donnell and her son James Monaghan, Leona Harper, Jessica Gallagher, James O’Flaherty, Martin McGill, Martina Martin and Hugh Kelly were lost, and we mourn them.

Donegal people stretch far beyond the 4,800 sq. km and 166,000 inhabitants of the county. The Donegal people and our diaspora spread to the four corners of the globe. What links the people of Donegal who are in the county with those acting as ambassadors for our great county across the world is their sense of community, compassion and togetherness. This is especially the case in the tight-knit community of Creeslough.

It is a village known throughout the country for its warmth, hospitality, kindness and sincerity.

While a terrible shadow has been cast across our county, we have seen the best of Donegal people in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and since. Within minutes of the incident, the emergency services were on-site at the filling station. There was no time for them or the locals to think, only act. Each of our emergency services working with local people were heroic in their efforts. They risked their own lives to save those in Creeslough. The people of Donegal will never forget their heroism and commitment to their fellow people. Superintendent David Kelly and the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, chief ambulance officer, John Joe McGowan, and the first responders, consultant in emergency medicine, Mr. Gerry Lane, and Mr. Seán Murphy and the Letterkenny University Hospital, LUH, team all played an enormous role immediately after the explosion and in the hours and days that followed. Specifically on healthcare, I sincerely thank the ambulance drivers, paramedics, doctors, surgeons, the county coroner, Dr. Denis McCauley, nurses, porters and all the staff at Letterkenny University Hospital, and all those who treated the injured and dying in their of need. They saved lives and gave us hope and comfort.

The Donegal services were led by Mr. Garry Martin and county manager Mr. John McLaughlin from Donegal County Council. Emergency services were co-ordinated by Mr. Brian Ó Fearraigh, the regional advanced paramedic supervisor. We must also thank the urban search and rescue team from the North, one of the many examples of cross-Border co-operation following the tragedy, for its work. The role of the local community was to the fore in the immediate response. This was typified by the digger driver who worked late into the night without a break to help work through the remains of the building and try to rescue and recover those inside.

Of course, volunteers of all ages played a huge role in keeping the community, people and emergency services together over the time. Our thoughts, at all times, have never left those who have lost their loved ones and whose lives are irreparably changed and altered forever. Our thoughts are also very much with those who continue to recover from their injuries on that day, in particular, the two survivors who remain in hospital. When An Taoiseach visited the site the day after the explosion, he was very much moved by how the volunteers were so giving of their time as part of the search effort as well as ensuring that everyone at the site was looked after. In particular, he asked me to mention Siobhan Carr and her team in the Coffee Pod café, which stayed open day and night to offer food and a place of refuge for those carrying out the search. A warm heart through the tears and a cup of tea was what so many people needed and valued that weekend.

The spirit of support and volunteerism also resulted in a contribution of more than €1.6 million to two separate support funds. This will be a real help to those in the local area in the time ahead. I also express my sincere thanks to those who offered accommodation and supports, those who helped out at religious services and everyone who helped and supported in any way. I recognise, in particular, the immense support provided by local clergy to the community in its time of immense need, in particular the leadership and role played by Fr. John Joe Duffy, who was a tower of strength throughout, and to Bishop Alan McGuckian and Bishop Andrew Forster as well as Fr. Brian Ó Fearraigh and Fr. Michael Carney, who conducted the funerals and supported families with many of their colleagues over the course of that week and since. At a time when their people needed them, they stepped forward to support. They knew and did their best to provide comfort and ease the pain of those who lost their loved ones, which was very much valued by all. I also recognise the presence of our Uachtarán in attending and being present in support of the community at those funerals and wakes over the course of the week, and also the visit of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

The Government will continue to back the people of Creeslough and we will stand with the community for as long as it takes. Through my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, we are extending the humanitarian assistance scheme to households damaged by the explosion. The funds will provide financial support to people who have suffered damage to their home and property. The HSE is providing counselling to those who need it. The impacts of this awful accident may only start to affect people from now on so I urge anyone who needs to talk to someone to reach out and do so.

From being in Creeslough with fellow Oireachtas Members over that week, and attending each of the funerals, I know just how heartbroken is this small village of 400 people along the N56. This is a pain that will remain with the local community and bereaved families for the remainder of their lives. It is now that the local community is trying to start to pick up the pieces and reconnect with some semblance of normal life. It has been good to see the efforts under way the Lafferty family to reopen a shop at the heart of the local community. I was heartened, in particular, to see the return to some small semblance of normality with the St. Michael’s under-13 team, who were recently three-point winners over Naomh Conaill in the division two Donegal cup final. The team, which counts all-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness in its backroom team, has lifted the spirits of people locally. Never before did a community need an under-13 league final as much as this. Jim’s son, Mark Anthony, captained the young men to the cup and said in his speech that the win was “for the community”. Those words and the actions of St. Michael's, its chair and volunteers deserve special mention too. Similar words were also brilliantly spoken by Ireland soccer hero Amber Barrett who has a deep connection to the village.

One month on, Donegal still mourns for the people of Creeslough. One year on, Donegal will mourn for the people of Creeslough. Donegal will always remember the people, the community and the togetherness of Creeslough. A shadow may have been cast but the sun will rise again. We will all stand by the people of Creeslough and never forget those ten people who died simply going about their daily lives or their loved ones whose lives have been so unalterably changed as a result. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is one month since the tragedy visited Creeslough, with the loss of ten beautiful lives that gave so much joy to their families, friends and community. They were 14-year-old Leona Harper, who went into the shop to buy an ice cream, excited about the sleepover she was about to attend that evening; Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter, little Shauna Flanagan Garwe, who had gone into the shop together to buy a birthday cake for Shauna's mother; Hugh Kelly, who had driven Shauna and her father, Bob, to the shop, a simple act of friendship that reflected his kindness and generosity; young Jessica Gallagher, who had embarked on her journey as a fashion designer and had just posted a card to her sister Lisa; James O'Flaherty, who had gone into the shop while his 12-year-old son waited in the car on the forecourt for his father's return; Catherine O'Donnell and her young son James Monaghan, who she had just met off the school bus before they made their way into the post office; Martina Martin, a loving mother of four, who was working that day, described as a friend to everyone and the mammy of the workplace; and Martin McGill, known for his kindness, who had gone into the shop that day to run errands for his mother. This deep loss now reflects just how full and beautiful their lives were. They truly left their mark and we remember them all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured that day, those who remain in hospital and those who are recovering at home. The grief felt by families in the community of Creeslough is the grief of this nation and beyond its waves. Their loss is a loss for the nation. They have also offered us a glimpse of what the nation is and what it means through their bravery and strength and the instinct to help their neighbour with whatever resources were at their disposal.

Many were local people without training or experience who found themselves in the middle of the rescue effort. First responders raced to the scene to offer help and comfort. Nurses and healthcare workers who live locally were driven by their innate sense of service. Fr. John Joe Duffy, the rock, the tower of strength, himself a first responder, has provided so much support, comfort, consolation and hope to the families and the community. Local businesses opened their doors, offering their services and premises to the first responders and others in the village. The Garda, the fire services, Donegal County Council and many other first responders were on the scene and acted with such compassion and understanding. They included those who rushed from the North to provide support and to take part in the rescue efforts. Many of them refused to leave right until the end. This is a community that, despite the devastation of loss, has galvanised to support and comfort one another.

Despite their strength and resilience, however, they cannot do this on their own, I believe. We need to ask ourselves and one another what the families and the community of Creeslough need now and in the time ahead. First, we need to respect their privacy. Second, we need to recognise that the physical hub of the community is destroyed. It lies in rubble. We need to listen to the community and to provide the infrastructure, both physical and social, that is needed for them to ensure the families affected in the community at large can begin the slow process of healing in the time ahead. Counselling services must be available for a sustained period, as and when they are needed, for those affected by this tragedy, not only within the community of Creeslough but further afield. While the main road will reopen in the time ahead and a new shop will open its doors to service the community again, rivers of tears will continue to flow in the community and its hinterland because the people there have faced a great trauma and tragedy that has deprived them of their loved ones in such sudden and tragic circumstances. In their grief and their love and support for one another, they have cast a light not only on the beautiful lives of each and every one of those who lost their lives but also on the fragility of life and the strength of community.

I will finish by quoting the words of wisdom spoken by Hamish, the son of James O'Flaherty. He told us as we attended the funeral mass of his father:

We should be grateful. For your families, cherish them ... because they won't be there forever, so use up the time you have wisely. Also, be grateful for your life because that too will not last forever. But be grateful for you will be able to rest after your hard work.

Those words of Hamish have such power because they are the words of truth. We remember Leona, Robert, Shauna, Martina, Jessica, James, Hugh, Catherine, James and Martin. We pray that their families and friends will find comfort in their grief.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We all remember where we were when we first heard news of the tragedy in Creeslough. As the hours moved on, we started to hear indications that there was significant loss of life. Then the full horror was revealed. The nation and, obviously, the people of Donegal knew the number of people who had lost their lives, but then we heard their stories and we moved through the wakes and the funerals over one of the most solemn weeks I can ever remember.

It was, however, deeply humbling because in the worst, most unimaginable tragedy that could happen, an appalling and horrific tragedy, the best of people was brought out. Sometimes the worst possible thing that can happen brings out the very best in people. We witnessed the love and solidarity of the immediate community, the wider county of Donegal, our nation and our diaspora - good people all around the world. I will never forget that kindness.

I pay tribute to the unbelievable heroism of the local community. They were the very first on the scene and, with no thought for their own safety, showed the instinct to try to save lives and to go in to remove rubble. What started with a handful of people quickly became hundreds working as a team to remove the rubble. Then the digger driver, with incredible dedication and skill, took away the heavy masonry. The people did everything they could to try to save lives in the most horrendous of circumstances.

I pay tribute to the emergency services, the fire and rescue services from both sides of the Border, the ambulance service, the Garda, our hospital staff and Donegal County Council. I am sure there were others. Of course, our wider health and mental health services have been there for the community. They need to be there continually now. I know they have said they will be there for as long as people need them. I repeat the call Fr. John Joe Duffy made in recent days for people to avail of those services, to talk about what has happened and to get the support they will need.

I pay tribute to Fr. Brian Ó Fearraigh and Fr. Michael Carney, who took responsibility for two of the masses. They were a tremendous support in those two cases to the O'Flaherty and Harper families. Fr. John Joe Duffy has been and continues to be an incredible support to his community. The eulogies he delivered at the various funerals told a story of a man who is at the heart of his community and who has a love and compassion for his community that is inspirational. He and his team will need support moving forward. Bishop McGuckian should be given great praise for his tremendous support, quietly supporting Fr. John Joe in particular throughout the week. I am sure he will continue to do so, together with all the priests from the surrounding parishes. At times we have had to criticise the church in this State, and rightly so, but where there are priests behaving like they did and giving the support they gave, that is worthy of support and admiration. To have see that at close hand over that week was an absolute privilege.

As for the next steps, the community will need supports in the form of mental and physical infrastructure. We need to restore the buildings, get people back in their jobs, get people back in their homes and build community facilities. It is the best tribute we can pay to those who lost their lives.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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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.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the people who are still hurting and who will hurt for a long time. Families who are directly affected will hurt due to this enormous loss and tragedy. I am very conscious that this is extremely raw. It is very raw for the people who are still grieving. We are in the middle of the months' minds and while this opportunity has been afforded to us parliamentarians to speak on this issue, I am conscious that there are people who are in tremendous pain and are hurting following the loss of their loved ones - their relatives, neighbours and friends.

From the Friday night, An Garda Síochána was on-site with many other emergency services. As the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine pointed out, the council played a very active role in ensuring there was an immediate response in conjunction with the community. An inspector was appointed on the Friday night by An Garda Síochána to deal with the families who were going to be directly affected. I acknowledge the immediate response of An Garda Síochána. In the aftermath of that appointment, Garda liaison officers were appointed to deal directly with the families. It is important that we reassure the families that those Garda liaison officers will remain with them in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. It is important to emphasise this. Regardless of the response, the one thing we must be conscious of is that it is must be victim-centred and victim-focused. One thing I have learned in my 23 years in politics is that words can be comforting or lead to difficulties. It is important that whatever words are used in the future emphasise the point that victims will be central to whatever plan is put in place for the community in Creeslough.

I acknowledge Donegal County Council for appointing a liaison person on-site, which was also important. They were very proactive in setting up their group at both executive and county level to ensure that there is a mechanism there. I acknowledge Padraic Fingleton and his team from Donegal Local Development Company, who have been proactive in meeting with different representatives from the community and leadership within the community to figure out a way forward. From speaking to Mr. Fingleton, it is clear that we are struggling regarding what the best thing to do here is. As a Donegal Deputy and a neighbour of Creeslough, I am struggling to figure out what the next best steps are. From my own experience and my experience in community development, I think the best thing we can do is to ensure the community of Creeslough is not forgotten. Regardless of what the response to this community is, it must be a community response so we need to ensure at all times that whatever is needed in the future is provided.

I am also conscious that whatever we do or whatever plans or visions we have for the future will not change what people have lost in terms of family members, neighbours and friends so we must all be very cognisant of that. My colleagues, Deputies Doherty and MacLochlainn, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, have emphasised the importance of community response and listed numerous examples of people who responded in the immediate aftermath. I join them in expressing those sentiments and in acknowledging the role of Father John Joe Duffy and Reverend David Skuce, whom I got to know during the week. I join my colleagues in praising the work done at a pastoral level. We need to support them too. I spoke to a lady today who said:

Joe, we're living with this every day. Every morning we wake up, we're still living with it and we know we're going to be living with it for a long time into the future.

As parliamentarians, we can ensure we continue to communicate and let people know they will not be forgotten. We can do this not just through words but through actions and this is something I will endeavour to do.

We have a lot of examples internationally where communities have had to deal with enormous trauma and tragedies in different forms that have left a massive legacy. A lot of people have been reaching out from Wales to Scotland to the North. On that Friday night when I spoke to many young men and women from the emergency services in the North who joined our own emergency response, they were very shocked by the whole thing. These were men and women in their thirties who would never have had to deal with this type of tragedy in the North. This shows how things have moved on in the North and how collectively we can learn from the North's past and people like Reverend Norman Hamilton from north Belfast who reached out directly to the community and want to help it. We have a role to play as parliamentarians in using our own networks to do that. I acknowledge Malachy O'Neill from Magee University and Eddie Friel, who will facilitate a meeting - an initial conversation - to figure out the best thing to help the community in the medium to long term. At the moment, there are nuts and bolts issues that need to be dealt with. There needs to be proper communication for local businesspeople who want to get their businesses to a place to serve the community knowing what the plan is.

I refer to whatever communication An Garda Síochána and the safety authorities can provide regarding the investigations, once complete. It is important that these lines of communication are led from the front.

To conclude, I again extend my deepest sympathies to the families and the Creeslough community, to the families and relatives of the deceased, to those critically injured and to all the people directly impacted by this tragedy that arrived on our doorstep. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas chuig na daoine a bhí ag obair ar an oíche agus ar an lá dár gcionn agus na daoine éigeandála fosta. Tá mé ag smaoineamh ar Robert Garwe, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Hugh Kelly, Leona Harper, Jessica Gallagher, Catherine O'Connell, James Monaghan, Martina Martin, Martin McGill agus James O'Flaherty. Táimid ag smaoineamh orthu agus ar an bpobal fosta. Beimid ar a dtaobh amach anseo.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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One month on, even after all that has been said, there are still no words to describe the trauma, heartbreak, pain and sorrow being felt by so many because of what happened in Creeslough. Ten lives are gone. The impact of such a loss has now truly hit home. For at least ten homes, it will never go away. The truth is that Creeslough will never be the same. A semblance of normality will return, but from now on Creeslough will always be a place marked by sorrow for everyone who lives in, visits and drives through the town.

It will also, though, be a symbol of the best of humanity, of Ireland and of Donegal. It will be a symbol of a community coming together and of resilience and solidarity. I again commend all those who ran to assist in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. I refer to volunteers and those in the emergency services, who worked alongside each other in a desperate bid to save lives. I again commend all those who provided such crucial leadership in the month that has followed this awful explosion. I also again commend Fr. John Doe Duffy and other clergy, as well as other leaders, in GAA and other sports clubs and community organisations. In this, I include the local Oireachtas Members who stood by and with the community through a very tough period. I commend the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, for his speech today. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I especially commend Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn. Like other elected representatives, they have gone through what must have been, on any level, the very traumatic experience of having had to stand beside so many families who experienced such devastating loss over such a short time. I have no doubt that all these Oireachtas Members and local elected representatives will continue to advocate for the needs of the people they represent in Creeslough and the surrounding areas. These needs must be met.

After all the news stories have been written, families and communities must have full recourse to the resources they need and any answers they require. I am conscious this State has not always delivered these things for families that have experienced such tragedies in the past. I hope, however, that the unity of this House, which we heard expressed in the statements in the immediate aftermath and again today, will ensure there is a different legacy and a different story when it comes to Creeslough. I also wish to be associated with the remarks of sympathy conveyed to the families of Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Leona Harper, Robert Garwe, little Shauna Flanagan Garwe, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, Catherine O'Connell and James Monaghan. We shall remember them. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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On Friday, 7 October, an explosion tore through the heart of Creeslough. In an instant, the lives of ten people were snatched away and the lives of those left behind were changed utterly. On that terrible day, we lost James O'Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, Martina Martin, Leona Harper, who was just 14, Robert Garwe, and his little daughter, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Catherine O'Connell and her teenage son, James Monaghan.

For the families involved, such appalling loss is unfathomable and unimaginable. The grief and pain are still desperately raw. This week marked another difficult milestone for the families and friends of the victims as the months' mind masses got underway. The sorrow is absolutely palpable. The entire community has been impacted by this disaster. For such a small and close-knit area, the deaths of ten people in such a shocking incident will leave indelible scars. Everybody in the town knows those who died and those who were wounded. Every family is in some way touched by this appalling tragedy.

People across the country also got to know the victims. We know Robert and five-year-old Shauna, who had just started school a few short weeks before her death. They had stopped at the shop to buy a birthday cake. Leona, a talented rugby player, was looking forward to a sleepover that night and was in the shop to buy an ice cream. Martin, a devoted carer for his mother, was at the ATM to get money for a takeaway. Jessica, a talented young designer, was due to start a new job and an exciting new stage in her career a few short days after the explosion. The whole country was moved by the eulogy of 12-year-old Hamish O'Flaherty for his dad, James, who he described as a "great man". Hamish had sage advice for us all. He said we should be grateful for the families we have, and that we should cherish them and be grateful because, as he reminded us, they will not be here forever.

It is difficult in the wake of an event as appalling as this tragedy to find words that seem adequate to describe fully the intense heartbreak and incomprehension everyone feels. Perhaps the best description came from Creeslough's parish priest, Fr. John Joe Duffy. He said the community had been hit by what he referred to as "a tsunami of grief". The grief continues of course. It is immense, relentless and overpowering. In moments of deep despair, we can also look for signs of hope, a chink of light to illuminate the darkness. This light came in the form of the strength of the many members of the local community who worked tirelessly to save as many people as possible and to retrieve the remains of those who had died as swiftly as possible in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. We can also see light in the response of the members of the emergency services, who acted with such diligence and sensitivity at such an unspeakably awful time. We see light as well in the work of our healthcare workers, who treated the injured with such care and kindness and who continue to do so.

Now, we must ensure that those who are wounded, bereaved and otherwise impacted by this terrible tragedy continue to receive the support they so desperately need. This support must be offered to those caught up in this devastating incident and living not only in Creeslough but also in Letterkenny, Dunfanaghy and other surrounding areas. Local schools dealing with the grief of students who lost classmates and parents also require long-term and ongoing support. This support must be available and there must be no question of this. It must include intensive mental health services and counselling. There can be no question of this support being withdrawn before the need for it ends. This support must be made available and continue to be made available.

My thoughts and sympathies and those of all Social Democrats members are with the community of Creeslough and surrounding areas and those who have worked and will continue to work over the coming weeks and months to support them through this desperately dark period.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I join with other Deputies in offering, on behalf of the Green Party, my condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to them in what must be a very difficult time as they head into a month's mind to recall and treasure their lost loved ones.

I was fortunate to be able to visit the village of Creeslough on Sunday two weeks ago when I attended mass in St. Michael's Church. Fr. Seamus Murphy stood in as substitute for Fr. John Joe Duffy who, not surprisingly, had Covid because in the previous weeks he had so much contact, literally in touch in every way. Pope Francis described the role of the priest as like someone in a field hospital. Fr. Duffy helped people of the community through a very difficult time.

Through Fr. Duffy, I was lucky to meet Margaret Anne Dolan and Brian Dolan, members of the Creeslough Community Association. Through them, I had the great honour of meeting various people in the village who had been heroic in their response. From listening to them, what stayed with me was the instantaneous response after the explosion when the community, the people of the village, arrived at the most unimaginable scene and had the incredibly arduous job of getting people out and trying to prevent any further casualties or loss of life. The heroism the people of the village showed at that time touched so many people here and all over the world.

I am conscious that the village is cut off. I was talking to Deputy Doherty last week about the need to reopen the road as soon as we can. The Deputy is correct in that regard. At the same time, gardaí standing guard at the scene are making sure the incident is investigated in a thoroughly professional and proper way. That is fair but I hope the road will reopen shortly. My Department will do everything we can to help restore connectivity and ensure the community is supported, as it needs to be, through counselling, to which Deputy Shortall referred, and every other measure and means available to us.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I offer my sincere condolences to the people of Creeslough, the community at the centre of this tragedy, and to the family and friends of Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her dad, Robert Garwe, Catherine O'Donnell and her son, James Monaghan, Leona Harper, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, James O'Flaherty and Martina Martin - sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles and dear friends who are all incredibly missed.

I will not be alone in saying the people of Creeslough should be incredibly proud of the example of strength and kindness they have shown and the manner in which they have come together to support one another at a time of such incredible grief. The close-knit nature of their community was what I was most struck by in the early hours and in those early days after this tragedy. In times of grief, we all know that those first few days and weeks can feel like a blur. It is the presence of others that gets us through it but, one month on from the tragedy, I am sure the bitter reality of life without their loved ones is settling in for the community of Creeslough. That is why it is so important that society and we as parliamentarians remember those lost and continue to keep their names, spirit and legacies alive and continue to offer small condolence to grieving families and friends that, as life moves on, their loved ones will never be forgotten by their families and friends or the people of Ireland.

I commend all the local Deputies and councillors, including Deputy McHugh, who provided such support to the community and continue to do so. In particular, I commend the work of Fr. John Joe Duffy who has been a rock for his parish in Donegal. In recent weeks, we have seen the worst of the church in Ireland being highlighted but Fr. Duffy's example is in such stark contrast and represents the best of the church and of community leadership. I was glad to read Fr. Duffy's recent comment that he was quick to avail of the counselling services offered to Creeslough residents. That is truly leadership by example.

I commend the HSE on acting so quickly to make these services available and the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Frank Feighan, who was on site, with Deputy McHugh, in the early days to put that emergency response together. I hope that a plan for long-term support will be established to continue to provide residents with the help they need in the months ahead.

The impact of an event such as this on a community is immeasurable. There is the absolute randomness of it. There is the cruelness of people being taken away while doing ordinary everyday things, such as going to the local shop, visiting the post office or buying an ice-cream or birthday cake. These are things the people of Creeslough would have done every day without a second thought. They are things all of us do every day without a second thought. We cannot rationalise this kind of tragedy. I hope the community will continue to avail of professional help to assist them.

The education and training board has submitted an application to the Department of Education for support services to provide additional grief and counselling in schools. I ask the Minister for Education to look at that, as local representatives, including Deputy McHugh, have already done.

The hub of the Creeslough community was the local petrol station and shop. Its loss is no doubt a constant reminder of the tragedy and the lives lost. I commend the businesses that made donations to the temporary shop in the community to keep people going with essentials and the contractors working around the clock to get a new shop up and running and restore community facilities.

Creeslough is an exceptionally strong community. We have all seen that. I have no doubt that while people grieve the loss of their loved ones and keep their legacies alive, they will learn to laugh and smile again and there will be times of joy again. I was heartened to hear that on 30 October, the people of Creeslough lined the streets once again, but this time to cheer on the arrival of the victorious St. Michael's GAA club's under-13 team. They stopped to pay tribute to those lost on 7 October. While they did this, I am told the local church celebrated the baptism of three babies - a symbol of hope for the future of Creeslough.

I sincerely hope that the people of Creeslough feel the support of all of Ireland behind them. The Government, the people of Ireland and people beyond Ireland are with them. Most importantly, I hope they know that the lives of Shauna, Robert, Catherine, James Monaghan and James O'Flaherty, Leona, Jessica, Martin, Hugh and Martina will never be forgotten.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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We are here to speak on the awful tragedy at Creeslough. It was one of those moments where the island was united in shock and in grief. It was one of those moments when we look at our own lives and the people in them and take the time and opportunity to tell them how much we value and love them and how unbearable it would be to imagine life without them. This is exactly the present and future for the families of those who lost their lives in Creeslough.

I am of the generation who did not go around saying "I love you" to family members or hearing it from them, but we all knew it. I said it to my dad a few weeks before he died when he was having a serious operation and I remember the two of us were bawling. I am so glad I did but at least I had notice. What happened in Creeslough was not expected. It was an ordinary day. A simple trip to the shops, a good turn by a neighbour or a quick nip in for an ice-cream or birthday cake ended the lives of their beloved and changed forever their own. No more than my daddy and I both knew it, those people were loved too. For the surviving loved ones, they must know that.

No matter how long or short our lives, no matter how happy, simple or complex they are, our lives begin and end with a set of numbers - our date of birth and the date of our death. The first we celebrate year in, year out, while the second comes more slowly and we do not know when it will come. It arrived for the people of Creeslough on 7 October 2022. I wish comfort and healing to the families and the community.

I pay special tribute to the Garda, the fire service, the first responders, ambulance service and the priests in the parish of Creeslough.

They showed that at times of deep crisis there is a welcome and a place for us all, whether our faith has lapsed or we have no religion. I am not a very religious person but I believe the whole island was struck by the shocked and broken-hearted people coming and going to the church to find some comfort, answer or meaning. I pay tribute to Fr. John Joe Duffy and the priests of the surrounding parishes. I know and remember the comfort it brings when we lose somebody we love.

I often hear people of Donegal say the county is up north and forgotten but it is not. We will never forget the victims, families and friends from that fateful day. Donegal is loved throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. From the people of north Kildare I send to the people of Creeslough my deepest sympathies. I extend my sympathies to my Dáil comrades Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn and Teachtaí McHugh, McConalogue and Pringle. Whether our counties win or lose, we all feel it. Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Leona Harper, Robert Garwe, little Shauna Flanagan Garwe, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, Catherine O'Donnell and James Monaghan; ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A month ago today, the images that flashed across our screens and were transmitted on social media left us all feeling cold and anxious about what had happened and what it was all about. Looking at local people moving through rubble with their bare hands and local contractors moving in machinery and refusing to stop working until they completed the rescue operation was reminiscent of something we are familiar with seeing in Palestine, Ukraine, Yemen and during our own troubled past. They were scenes we did not get used to but they were frequent enough. Something really tragic, desperate and unusual happened in the beautiful county of Donegal. There could have been no contrast greater than that between the scene at Creeslough and the absolute beauty of the local environment.

I pay credit to the first responders, the local people and the front-line workers who helped all of those injured and killed. It says a lot about humanity and what human beings are capable of when we see such a brilliant response to such a really dreadful tragedy. I understand the counselling services offered to the local people have been accessed more than 200 times and that the HSE is expecting a surge in the demand for these services in the lead-up to Christmas. This is perfectly understandable. Christmas is a time for family, joy and togetherness. It will be very tough. All of our thoughts should be with the family and friends of those who died, those who were injured and those who ended up in hospital and perhaps are still in hospital or may have to continue to attend hospital. We should remind ourselves that the trauma they will have to live with is very deep. People may have heard Fergal Keane on the radio this morning speak about the post-traumatic stress disorder he has suffered and how he has attempted to grapple with it over many years as a war correspondent. We could not but be very moved by his advice never to feel alone and not to give up searching for acceptance and peace. I hope this will be inspiring to the families in the coming period and particularly to the survivors and those injured.

Many of us know the families of the victims and survivors of the Stardust fire. Although these were very different circumstances, we understand how important it is to be remembered, not to be forgotten and to have closure on a dreadful tragedy. Nothing can compare to the abrupt and untimely ending of life for these ten people. Really and truly, our hearts have to go out to them. As month's mind masses take place all over Donegal in the coming days, we should remember Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert, Catherine O'Donnell and her son James, Leona Harper, Jessica Gallagher, James O'Flaherty, Martin McGill, Martina Martin and Hugh Kelly. Not to be forgotten is terribly important. People should be fully supported by all of the services that can be made available to them. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha uaisle.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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It is good to see the Ceann Comhairle back in the Chair. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this very difficult and solemn debate to which I have listened intently. This is one of those moments when all of us in the House reflect the mood of the entire nation, north, south, east and west, on the sheer upset and hurt caused by the devastating tragedy in Creeslough. We look at the requests and responses that have come from this. As Deputy McHugh said so eloquently, it is about ensuring the support services are there for as long as they are needed and they will be needed for so much longer.

The victims of this tragedy must be remembered. That this tragedy occurred almost seven years to the day since a tragic fire in my constituency in Carrickmines when ten people also lost their lives brought home just how much this will occupy the hearts and minds of the entire nation and not only the families of the victims, the immediate community and the emergency services. The emergency services deserve particular credit for the fact that they rushed to deal with it from throughout the island. They showed unwavering commitment to the cause.

This event is devastating and everyone can see themselves or their family members in the images of the victims. They try to put themselves in the shoes of the family members, friends and community. They ask how they could possibly deal with such unfathomable devastation. People say time is a healer but it does not bring back loved ones. What is the responsibility of all of us in the Oireachtas? It is to ensure we continue to speak about this and continue to support our Oireachtas colleagues from Donegal, who have spoken so eloquently and emotionally this afternoon, as well as councillors and local authority members to ensure supports are provided for the entire community.

I mention in passing a family who live on the same road as me in Dublin as it shows the breadth of this tragedy and how it affected so many people. They lost their little cousin and her father in the tragedy. Their immediate response, of course, was great upset. These are young children of national school age. They also wanted to do something to remember their cousin who was not with them for particularly long. They baked cakes and got the school community in Stepaside to contribute to ensure there would be a permanent memorial in the school and preschool of their little cousin. The question is what can we do when we get like this. Doing something is often the hardest thing. We saw the action of very young children who will live with this for the rest of the lives. They will live with it much longer than the rest of us. We can look at the motivation to provide hope for all families and all victims, to keep the memories alive and to provide supports.

Deputy Bríd Smith mentioned the victims of the awful Stardust tragedy. There was also the Carrickmines fire in my constituency. There are many more such tragedies for which there is no explanation. The memories of those lost must not only be kept alive among their loved ones, family members and communities but, crucially, among the nation as a whole. It was telling that we saw condolence messages come to the community in Creeslough from around the world, including from the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the Ceann Comhairle and many other people. This showed how much this tragedy hit home for so many people.

I will finish with a particular reference to the Oireachtas Members and public representatives in Donegal who stood up here and made very difficult comments. I saw Deputy Doherty on the evening news several hours afterwards. I was struck by how tough it is to act in service of the community and State at these times. All of them have done so with such levels of dignity and compassion. Those of us in politics who perhaps have become a little bit cynical about life should always remember that our duty is to our constituents at all times. If we can carry ourselves half as well as they have done in recent weeks, we will be of some credit to our own constituencies.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Our thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with the families, friends and community of Catherine O'Donnell, James Monaghan, Martin McGill, Jessica Gallagher, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, Robert Garwe, Shauna Flanagan Garwe and Leona Harper.

I drove from Sligo to Creeslough to be with my colleagues that Saturday morning. There was an outpouring of grief but also an outpouring of solidarity. The air was heavy with grief and trauma. Having called to the various centres, I could see that a plan had been put in place by the emergency services, the local authority in Donegal, the HSE and many volunteers. I pay tribute to them for the way in which they quickly dealt with the situation, went to the shop within minutes of the explosion and saved many lives.

Father John Joe Duffy said, "While we cannot take that pain away for you, we want to walk with you”. The people of Ireland - North and South - were united in their grief for and solidarity with the people of Creeslough and Donegal. Across the United Kingdom, Europe and the world, Creeslough was on most people's minds. There was a huge sense of hope after lives were suddenly taken away in this random act. Hamish O'Flaherty, the 12-year-old son of James O'Flaherty, called on everyone to cherish life and family. We all know how deeply important those few words were.

To the men, women and children of Creeslough, I say that Creeslough is everything that is beautiful about our country. Unfortunately, this random act has transformed Creeslough. Out of that, Siobhán Carr and the staff at The Coffee Pod provided an oasis of comfort. They showed great respect for and stood by the people of Creeslough.

The HSE will continue to offer counselling to those who need it. It was a difficult time for everybody. All the resources must be made available throughout various Departments for the people of Creeslough and Donegal. Life moves on, but we cannot forget.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Without doubt, Creeslough was visited by a tsunami of pain, grief and tragedy. We all watched and waited and, unfortunately, our worst fears were realised as the truth came out about the people who died and the families who were impacted. I do not think any of us will forget that. I was involved in many community activities in County Louth the following day and all people wanted to talk about was this. It was county final season and not only did the GAA recognise what happened at Creeslough with a moment's silence but it had a fundraiser, as many others had. This was an attempt to do something about this absolute tragedy. We know the families have been devastated. The community of Creeslough and surrounding areas have been impacted greatly and the people of Donegal felt this pain. We all felt it but not to the same degree as they did. We must ensure the counselling services that are required are provided by the HSE as necessary, because dealing with tragedy and grief is an ongoing, long process. We must ensure we are with those people for the long run, and that is something we are required to do.

As other Members have done, I commend those who rushed to help, volunteered and were involved with the emergency services, North and South, and with the HSE. All of us have heard multiple stories of people who did that extra piece and stayed that bit longer because of this tragedy. We all know of people who were injured and impacted by this, such is the nature of the small island in which we live. We all have connections to Donegal. My granny on my mother's side was from Falcarragh. My grandfather played Gaelic football for Donegal, a skill set I did not inherit, which will not come as a shock to anyone who saw me play. The fact is that we all felt this pain, but we must ensure those who felt it greatest are provided with the necessary services.

I commend those who showed leadership, particularly Father John Joe Duffy and the Members of the Oireachtas and the Dáil. Deputies Pearse Doherty, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Charlie McConalogue, Joe McHugh and Thomas Pringle have to be commended on dealing head-on with this tragedy, which was on a huge level and was incredibly difficult. We all welcome what happened with St. Michael's GAA, and how Amber Barrett summed up the feeling for us when she said, "This is for Creeslough; this is for Donegal." I offer my thoughts and prayers to the families of those who are gone. We must remember but we must also make sure we follow through on doing what is necessary.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an gCeann Comhairle. Is deas é a fheiceáil ar ais anseo arís.

I begin by reiterating my deepest sympathies to the people of Creeslough and the wider Donegal community. Most especially, I convey my deepest sympathies, and the sympathies of my colleagues in Aontú, to the families of Leona Harper, Robert Garwe, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Jessica Gallagher, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, Catherine O'Donnell, James Monaghan and Martin McGill. All of them were simply going about their normal, everyday lives, such as choosing an ice cream, purchasing a birthday cake, buying messages for the week, collecting a pension, or visiting a loved one. That normal life was shattered in an instant, one which will last forever.

This shocking explosion has devastated families, broken the hearts of so many people around Ireland and left an unfillable void in the communities affected. I still find it hard to believe. I remember listening, hour after hour, to the news reports from Creeslough on that fateful day. I felt that the worst possible scenario was being realised in every news report released.

I pay tribute to the emergency services that struggled to save so many lives a month ago. The staff of those services went through thick and thin in very difficult circumstances that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. They did not give up until they had saved or, at least, retrieved every loved one who was lost that day. I pay tribute to the parish priest, Father John Joe Duffy, who did his best to offer support and solace to the families in these toughest of circumstances. In recent days, Father Duffy said that the numbness and shock is beginning to wear off and the pain of loss and trauma is becoming more acute. That is the difficulty in this regard. In many ways, that pain and trauma will manifest itself further in families in the weeks after this event. He also said:

Healing in a community like ours is a multi-faceted thing. It comes through what we offer as a church, with what the HSE offers, with what the soccer club, the youth club, the dance classes, and the GAA club offer. It’s about members of the community talking together or at least doing things together.

That is a really important issue. Through that community experience, people will achieve some level of healing in regard to this.

I know Creeslough very well and stayed there a number of times with friends from the village. On that fateful day I spoke on the phone to many of our cumann members who live there. I pay tribute to the community in Creeslough, the people of Donegal and the elected representatives from the county here today, namely, Deputies Mac Lochlainn, Pringle, McHugh, McConalogue and Doherty. As elected representatives, I know this will have hit them hard. We lost five teenage girls in a school crash in Navan almost 20 years ago. The hurt that caused is still alive in the community in Navan and Meath today. I would like to remember those girls now.

Nothing can prepare a community for this. Supporting families and loved ones when someone dies is one of the best traits of the Irish people. It is something we do well, in many ways. There is no doubt that supportive trait came to the fore in Donegal.

Many people have mentioned Hamish O'Flaherty, a young boy who has been through so much and yet spoke so courageously at the funeral for his father, James O'Flaherty. He said we should be grateful for our families, cherish them and be grateful because they will not be there forever. I spoke to people from Creeslough today who told me the month's mind masses have started and the church was full to the brim last night, and will be again over the coming weeks. The HSE is providing counselling and I encourage people to avail of it and make sure they get the support they need.

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, raised the issue of the investigation. It is of paramount importance that the investigation is carried out to the best ability of those involved in it. It is important that we know what happened on that fateful day and can learn lessons to make sure it never happens to another community. The Minister might be able to update the Dáil on progress in the investigation. He also mentioned the difficulties families are facing with the country roads currently being used in Creeslough, something that has been mentioned to me. These roads are not suitable for large volumes of traffic, especially on dark winter days. The point has been made that people would like to see the main road through the village reopened.

Déanaim comhbhrón iomlán ó chroí le muintir an Chraoslaigh agus Dhún na nGall. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil croíthe briste timpeall na tíre agus nach mbeimid in ann an poll sin a líonadh suas arís. Tá cumhacht agus grá ann, áfach, agus is cinnte go gcabhróidh siad sin le muintir an Chraoslaigh sna laethanta atá le teacht. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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There is no doubt that everybody is still trying to come to terms with what happened in Creeslough on that fateful evening. We have to salute each and every person in the vicinity of the shop, passers-by, neighbours, first responders, An Garda Síochána, ambulance crews, the fire brigade, council workers, hospital staff from the North and South and everybody else who tried to help. There was a real sense of the meitheal. They are normally organised but on this occasion in Creeslough it was spontaneous. The late Bridie Gallagher sang "The Homes of Donegal" and what else would we expect from the area? Bhí siad iontach i gcónaí.

The local parish priest, Father John Joe Duffy, was a source of great comfort and strength to the bereaved families and entire local community as his church became a focus for everyone's grief in the close-knit Creeslough community. Father Duffy officiated at six of the eight funerals of the ten victims and became one of the most familiar representatives of the shattered community. From our observations, it is very easy to see that he is very well respected and liked and a pillar of the local community.

I thank the Minister, Dáil colleagues, Sinn Féin representatives, Deputies McHugh and Pringle, local councillors and anybody who tried to help lessen the burden and share the grief. It was a true grief. As I said, this happened a month ago last Friday. A month after the devastating blast, the impact on the quiet community of Creeslough in County Donegal is still real and raw.

In a weekend edition of the Irish Examiner, Father Duffy said it is still very sad and the whole community is shocked and numb. The devastating impact of this tragedy on the families and loved ones of those directly affected is life-changing and heartbreaking. It is fair to restate that the impact of this is life-changing in so many ways for the community in Creeslough and north Donegal.

It is important to have support. Father Duffy said on radio yesterday he was one of the first to go for counselling. Goodness knows he needs it. We are all proud people and may say that we do not need any support like that, but we all do. Father Duffy showed great courage and dignity in saying that. I compliment any clergy of all denominations North and South. I thank the Government and Taoiseach. They did their best. There is not a lot anyone can do but be physically present representing the community in this House.

Those who passed away are James O'Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martina Martin, Leona Harper, Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert, Hugh Kelly and Catherine O'Donnell and her son James Monaghan. Our prayers and support will be with them. Beidh an tAthair John Joe Duffy ann maidin amárach chun Aifreann a dhéanamh for the holy souls. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse go léir.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to offer my sincere sympathies to the families of the bereaved, their friends, relations everywhere and the entire community of Creeslough and Donegal. I sympathise on behalf of my entire family and the people of Kerry and send our sincerest sympathies to everyone. I pay tribute to elected members in Dáil Éireann and in Donegal and those who helped in every way.

When this unspeakable tragedy happened, Irish people all over the country and the world were horrified. We never dreamed it could happen in any part of our country. Donegal is much like Kerry. We are the same kind of people, living with the Atlantic Ocean to our backs. We are horrified by what has happened. May God give the families strength to carry on and live for tomorrow.

I wish to say to the families that it is good to have known the loved ones they have lost and to try to carry on and do their best. If there is any way the Dáil can help those left behind, we should do so. It is an unspeakable tragedy. We know all of those who lost their lives are in heaven. May God be good to the families who are left behind.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I welcome the Ceann Comhairle back to the House after his recent illness.

Yesterday marked one month since the devastating explosion took place at the Applegreen station in Creeslough. Donegal has not been the same since that day. I speak on behalf of the entire county when I say that our hearts are broken and our thoughts are constantly with those who passed and their friends and families. A community was changed forever on 7 October and it is unimaginable to think what the loss of ten people is to a community of only approximately 400. Parents, grandparents, children, siblings, partners, friends, neighbours and colleagues were all lost suddenly and many lives were permanently changed. It is absolutely heartbreaking.

Coming to terms with this incredible loss is a very long and devastating process and should be supported in every way possible. Several month's mind masses will take place over the coming days. This will be a fresh wave of grief for the community and it is a reminder to the nation of Donegal's darkest day. For all of us in the county, however, this tragedy has stuck with us every day since. A dark cloud lingers over the hills and, frankly, I do not think the county will every be the same again.

In order to help come to terms with this devastating loss, supports should be available to the community during this time and long into the future. Maybe it is not the right time to say so but I have to say I am very disappointed to hear that supports have been scaled back in recent days. The grieving process has only just begun for this community and we must ensure the people of Creeslough are supported and given the space needed to grieve. I call on the HSE to bring back the drop-in counselling support services in Creeslough, not only during this difficult time, but in order to be available at any point in the future. Twenty days is not nearly enough time for those affected.

In the past month, the community has been numbed by a sense of shock. It is only in the coming months and years that people will properly come to terms with the unspeakable nightmare that cruelly visited them on that day. It has still not sunk in for people. Many locals say they are struggling with sleep in particular. Counselling without a GP referral should still be available to everybody. I heard on the radio yesterday that the HSE has confirmed that counselling will still be available for the community, but to have it directed through the already-creaking GP service is not good enough. It needs to be available easily. At the very least, the contact phone number should be maintained. The weeks ahead are when people will need support even more, as it is attempted to return to so-called normal.

I think of the children of the area in particular. No doubt they will have difficulty processing such a tragedy as time and life go on. I am also thinking of the brave locals who rushed to the scene to help with the rescue efforts. They show the type of community Creeslough is. I can only imagine the harrowing scene with which they were met and how this will no doubt stay with them for life.

I also have to address public representatives. I am thinking in particular of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and the disgraceful tweets she sent which caused distress and annoyance to many Donegal people. They were alleging sinister motivation within an hour of the disaster happening. No one was in any way able to make decisions about what could have happened that quickly. It was in such bad taste that it is hard to understand. It caused hurt to many people in Donegal. People have asked me to raise this and that is why I am doing so. I urge everyone to think before they comment in future because words have an impact. I take this opportunity to call on fellow representatives, the media and the nation as a whole to respect the privacy of the community at this difficult time.

The country came together for Creeslough. The generosity of Irish people at home and abroad was truly incredible. I know it meant a lot to the people of Creeslough and Donegal to know that the country stood with them in a time of need. Now the community needs the space to cope with the grieving process and to honour their loved ones. I will take the opportunity to recognise the efforts of all those who have supported the community in the past month: the clergy; the emergency services North and South; the businesses that offered their services and the surrounding communities that pulled together to support Creeslough.

We remember James O'Flaherty, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, Catherine O'Donnell, James Monaghan, Hugh Kelly, Martina Martin, Robert Garwe, Shauna Flanagan Garwe and Leona Harper who are forever in the hearts of the people of Donegal and represented the best of our county. When faced with tragedy, the Creeslough community responded with remarkable kindness. It demonstrated exactly what it is to come from a rural community in Donegal. When grief hits, we band together, silently and instinctively. There is a quiet kindness to the love and care of a community holding each other up and looking after each other without words or question. That is what being from Donegal is about and what the Creeslough community will be remembered for.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no denying that a pall of grief and sadness set upon the whole country when that event took place. One could not but be moved by the depth of the sincerity of the contributions that Members have made here today. To conclude this sad business, I propose that we stand for a minute to remember the victims and heroes of Creeslough, and also of Carrickmines, Stardust and Navan who have been mentioned.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha ar fad.