Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Granny came to live with us when she retired. I was born in 1966. Granny, my nana, kind of spoiled me. She used to call me "an gamhain breac", the speckled calf, because of my freckles. She was the only adult I knew who would allow me to drink as I wished, including seeing how much lemonade I could drink before I felt sick. What a granny.

I grew up in a matriarchal household with my grandmother, my mum and my three sisters. Therefore, I knew that women had played a very active role in the liberation of the State and in the formation of this Republic. I joined the Defence Forces and served here at home before the ceasefires in what we called aid-to-the-civil-power operations, and then in Lebanon in the Middle East during a violent deployment during which hundreds of Lebanese men, women and children were massacred in the Irish area of operations. I witnessed that at first hand. As I speak, I am conscious that this is happening in Ukraine, in Chernihiv, Mariupol and Kharkiv. I hope I can bring some of my experience and an awareness of the importance of peacebuilding, negotiation, back channels and always keeping the communication lines open to try to end the killing and the violence. We must ensure we do everything in our power to avoid escalation, because unique risks are involved with the conflict in Ukraine.

I am proud to see my wife, Aideen, here. Again, I would not be here without her. I would also not be here without the wonderful supportive community I have, including Eddie Barron, Roger Galligan, John and Emma Somers, David and Helle Moyna and Polly McCourt. This wonderful family and community of support rallied behind me in the election attempt in 2016, when Senator Ruane certainly taught me a few lessons, and again in 2020, when I think she doubled her first preference votes.