Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome everyone. This is an extraordinary moment for me.

I begin by expressing my sympathy to Private Seán Rooney’s family and friends and the family of Private Shane Kearney who are no doubt frightened and desperate to see their family member. To all our peacekeepers in Óglaigh na hÉireann, I express my sympathies today. It is a very sombre day for us as a nation.

I acknowledge that this is the last Order of Business of the year. I assume I will have an opportunity tomorrow to express my deep appreciation for the Cathaoirleach.In case I am not afforded that opportunity, I thank him most sincerely. He has guided the Seanad through Covid, which was quite extraordinary. Many of us were new Senators. I have found him to be incredibly helpful, from the texts I have exchanged with him and the requests I have made of him to the most recent occasion when I relied on his extensive knowledge of the protocols around the Irish Flag. Hopefully, this has been instrumental in bringing about change. I will elaborate on that in the new year. In every way, I have found him to be incredibly inclusive. On a personal note, he has given me very sensitive latitude when I have needed it, for which I am very grateful.

I thank the Leader. I will say more about her tomorrow as we do a changing of the guard. I express my thanks to everyone who works around the Seanad and makes it happen. If I start listing them, I fear who would be left out. I really appreciate all the incredible hard work that is done around this House.

One of the things I learned this year concerns the need to hear all voices, including opposing voices. We quite often cross swords in this Chamber and outside it. It is really important that all voices are heard. In expressing divergent opinions, it is important that we are always respectful and compassionate and have empathy for the journey of the people with whom we may have a difference of opinion. I hope that in the year to come, we will debate the surrogacy legislation in the context of the entirety of the assisted human reproduction Bill. Thankfully, due to the Cabinet decision this week, there will be a section that will include international surrogacy. It is really important in that debate that there is a sensitivity to the fact that when we use crude terminology, we are demonising existing children in this State, their families and their terribly hard journeys. The children who were demonised this year, in the crude language that was sometimes used, included my daughter Scarlett. I will stand up for my right not to acknowledge the participation of an individual who was a party to doing that. I look forward to the debate. I look forward to the diversity. I think it will be a very good experience for us as a House. We must always proceed with great respect for the people whose lives are affected by the fact that we have the privilege of public office to stand up and speak.