Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----so I think that helped us to connect.

Eoghan was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease at 18 months old. He had a normal delivery and hit all his developmental milestones, but then at 18 months we had this awful moment where he was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease called Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease. Eoghan is a wheelchair user and partially sighted. Like all families with a member with additional needs, we went through the looking glass and into this parallel republic, where it is necessary to fight tooth and nail for exceptionally poor services and resources. It is not the fault of the clinicians or of our wonderful specialists. Ireland, sadly, is one of the worst places in the EU to have a disability, on every measure, including social isolation, poverty, homelessness, suboptimal medical outcomes and unhappiness, and this is for shame. We should be the best country in the EU in which to have additional needs.This was the particular motivation for me to run. It comes from the very heart of my family and that experience. I am here to do three things. I am here to learn from Members, who have been exceptionally kind to me in the past 48 hours as I have tried to find my way around the Houses like a lost sheep. People have been exceptionally kind. I am also here to make friends because I know there is a wonderful coalition of the willing across all parties who want to improve the existential circumstances in which people with additional needs find themselves - our most wonderful and precious citizens. In the time remaining to me and mindful of Senator Ruane's growing first preference cohort, I want to use whatever time I have in the Seanad to do something constructive and positive. I thank my family and good friends who are here today for welcoming me. Most of all, I thank all of the wonderful Trinity College graduates and the provost, Linda Doyle, who gave me such a great welcome. For all of this, I am very grateful. I am here to serve.