Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the release of Fr. Michael Sinnott. It is a cause of great rejoicing for his family, the entire country and all people who are committed to helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Listening to the radio interview this morning one could not but be struck by the sheer generosity of spirit Fr. Michael Sinnott displayed. He is an example to us all, even in our current difficulties, because it is evident now what one person can do by being selfless and at the same time lift the spirits of other people. In many ways Fr. Michael epitomises all that is best in the church. When we think of the work the Church did, not just in Ireland but throughout the world, in helping the oppressed people, many of the priests, nuns and brothers did so at the risk of great danger to themselves. In many ways the kidnapping of Fr. Michael Sinnott underlines the danger to which they have exposed themselves. If those people were not available to do that work, a situation might arise where dictators could ride roughshod over the rights of people yet he stood up many times against the military and was prepared to state what he felt was right, both on humanity terms but also from a Christian point of view.

It should be stated that kidnapping someone to advance any cause must be one of the most heinous crimes, yet Fr. Michael Sinnott made no reference whatever to that this morning. He did not exaggerate in any way the terrible deprivation he suffered for those weeks. All he stated, and we could all take hope from this, is that he wanted to go back and continue the work he was doing. That is from a man who is 79 years of age in ill-health who has gone through this kidnapping ordeal. What problems have we in this country compared to that? There is a message for us all in that regard, namely, to be a little more selfless in dealing with people and to have more tenacity in helping those who are less well off than ourselves while endeavouring to bring some kind of united approach to ensure vulnerable people will not suffer more than they have suffered already.