Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I completely support my colleague, Senator Doherty, in her call and what she has said here on the St. John Ambulance. I commend her on bringing it to the House in the first place and for the motion and for being a champion all the way through for Mick Finnegan and all the other men who came forward. I have stood there with them and I have heard their experiences. That included one of them being singled out and approached when he stood there on his own one morning. Throughout, the St. John Ambulance has behaved in no way but highly cynical, reputational preservation. It is not just on this report. It goes back to a book published in 2003 which had a photograph of all the leaders and officers. The person who is at the centre of all this had been Photoshopped out of that photograph. It goes back an awfully long time and is not anything new where it is putting its own reputation and its absolute control ahead of anything else and ahead of individuals who were vulnerable and are still vulnerable. They may be grown men but they are still vulnerable. Next week, I will stand right beside Senator Doherty in supporting them and ensuring that they have support on the day. They have been invited into a closed room. They are not invited to bring support with them. They have been asked to attend on their own in a very controlled environment, whatever St. John Ambulance has to say.I believe the report is extensive. St. John Ambulance may think we are going to be quiet because the Ministers will not be here next week and the Houses are not sitting. We will be sitting the following week, however, and I will not be quiet then. I am very confident that my colleagues will not be quiet either.