Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join in the very warm welcome to Senator Máiría Cahill. I had no hesitation in supporting Senator Cahill, given her role on violence against children and women. To that end, I also welcome Maeve Lewis of One in Four and Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, who have joined us here today in the Gallery. I extend a very special welcome to Senator Cahill's family, especially to her daughter. It is lovely to see children in the Seanad, that is, actual children. I could not resist. Senator Cahill is very welcome and I look forward to working with her over the coming weeks on many issues of mutual concern.

On the horrific events on Friday evening, as the terror unfolded, it shook us all to the core. Indeed, it shook us out of our complacency, as did the attacks that took place in Beirut the day before, the attack on Russian civilians on the plane in Egypt and also the attacks that take place in Turkey, Iraq and Syria every single day. We need to wake up. I echo and support the call by Senator O'Brien to have a debate at an appropriate time in which we can come together and realise the importance of acting together. I was fortunate yesterday to join so many Irish people and French citizens at the French embassy for the one-minute silence in solidarity with Paris. I will echo in the Seanad Chamber the words of the French ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Jean-Pierre Thébault, "No to terror, yes to freedom, yes to life." I hope today in the Seanad that we can be as one. Nous sommes unis.