Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE, started when three veterans died on our streets. These people served the Tricolour with pride, often in places of conflict, as the UN's most distinguished peacekeepers, and often in the North of Ireland during the Troubles. It is a charity and it needs support. Former members of the Defence Forces are going to highlight the plight of homeless veterans by camping on the streets of Dublin in sleeping bags made of fabric in the colours of the national flag. It is atrocious that anybody who wore the Army's uniform would have to do this to raise funds for their veterans. ONE has houses in Donegal, Athlone and Dublin. It provides 44 beds per night and has looked after more than 900 veterans in its time, and 16,000 bed nights in a year. I urge all Members to go online and support the campaign.I also ask that we contact that Minister and ask him to support this charity. It should not have to be a charity in the first place; it should be supported. It receives funding from the Department of Defence, but it is obviously not enough. This has to be addressed. No veteran who has served his or her country should have to rely on charity.