Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo what Senator Buttimer just said about the pre-budget briefing of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland entitled Dementia Can't Wait. I have personal reason to be very grateful for the good work that organisation does. One of the points that came across clearly today was that the work of caring, be that within families or paid care, must be valued. People must be paid a proper wage. There is a problem in some areas, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach has pointed out, in getting people to do this important work even when the resources have been put in place to deal with it. That must be prioritised in the budget.

I also agree with what Senator McGahon said about the dangers of populism. As I said yesterday during a debate on legislation, the work of the Oireachtas and the Parliament is key in rowing against any groupthink or cancellation of people for their ideas. Only today some people addressed me as I was coming into Leinster House who are concerned about the fact that the word "woman" or the idea of being a woman is proposed to be erased from certain legislation. Those issues are controversial but there are people who want to make important points. There are people with major concerns about the human rights of children, mothers and women in the context of surrogacy. It must be possible to make trenchant interventions and state clearly what one believes to be wrong or harmful to society without being accused of being unchristian or being bullied or accused of being a bigot.

We can set an example as parliamentarians by making our points strongly without ever attacking the person. Where I have sinned against that, I apologise. Everybody should see that is the clear line. We must be allowed to express strongly-held views on important issues, provided that we do not attack other people. As far as I am concerned, Senator Keogan is the one who has suffered most in this regard in the way she was treated by this Member. She should not have been told by a Member of the Dáil to leave a committee meeting. That person acted beyond their remit. That issue must be examined to find out why that happened and to make sure it does not happen again.