Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Labour Party Whip in the Seanad, I welcome Senator Máiría Cahill to the Chamber for the first time, along with her family and friends. It is an important occasion for a family. Our former colleague, Jimmy Harte, had been hoping for a Northern voice, and he will be pleased with the outcome of the election, a richly deserved victory on the part of Senator Cahill.

I join the other voices condemning the atrocities in Paris. I had just returned from launching the finals of the Model United Nations in Rathdown school when the first news of the shootings came in. As the night went on, the events became more horrific. I commend the bravery of the many French people who put their lives at risk for others. My friend and colleague, Professor Paddy Gray from the University of Ulster, was one of the people caught in the crossfire. A French man he had never met before in his life took Professor Gray in, from the middle of street shooting, and sheltered him in his apartment. There were many occasions of bravery of that sort, and they must be commended.

While I am very conscious of many of the statements made in the media, we must be very careful to continue to balance private against societal freedoms. We cannot allow our fear to cause us to look at other members of our society differently, particularly those who happen to be a different colour or practice a different religion. In this country in particular, we must continue to treat all members of society equally.