Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome and support the Bill. To follow Senator Hoey, we need to look at how people's private home addresses are put on ballot papers. We are all only after filling out our Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, forms over the last few days and our home addresses are on those forms too. That this information is there for the public to know is unacceptable for those who put themselves forward for public life, to serve their community and their people. As Senator Craughwell said, their families are not elected. Their families should never feel under threat in any way in their home. I have had my own recent issues which I cannot speak about. One's home is one's sanctuary and that is where we should be safe. We should feel our homes are safe when we are away. A significant number of Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas travel long distances from home and stay in Dublin. Our families are home and we are not there to look after them, in my case, as a father of three kids. It is important that they are protected by the law and the judicial system.

Every political party is going to support this legislation. However, I would ask some political parties to tell their supporters to stay away from family homes of Oireachtas Members and particularly of Members who are in Government parties. I have had the experience of people coming to my home just 18 months ago at 9 o'clock at night, as I was putting my children to sleep. They came to my house, left items and disturbed me reading my children a story at my home. They did so because of my political allegiances and the party I represent. When I challenged them and pointed out that this was my family home, I was videoed on a phone and that video was put up on social media by a supporter and someone involved with a political party that hopes to be in government here. They were accusing me of intimidating a young girl. Luckily enough, the CCTV I had in my home, which I provided to the Garda, showed that there were two other individuals there as well. There was also an audio recording of what I said, that it was my family home and it was off limits. That is the way it should be. I should not have to defend my family home to anyone. I should not have to have my face plastered up on social media accusing me of something totally wrongly when people who are supporters of and involved with another party come to my home at night, one of them hooded, to leave items at my door and try to intimidate me and my family. I ask that political parties ask their supporters and those involved in their party to keep away from the family homes of those who are involved in political life.