Victor Boyhan (Independent)

First, I salute Julie Lyons in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery with her huge family. I do not think the Gallery can take any more. Well done, Julie. What can I say about Julie Lyons? She has wined and dined – I will stop there – world leaders. She has many a story she could tell but she is always discreet. She has a great sense of humour but she is always discreet, which is an important part of the job. She nourishes us and feeds us but more importantly she is a constant friend and colleague to us all and knows all our quirks and ways. We will really miss Julie. She is more than special. She went way beyond catering. She went on about hospitality, which should be at the heart of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the people’s house, as I always say. She has been at the very kernel and very core of that in receiving in a most gracious and generous way the first person to represent us in this House. I salute her and I say that on behalf of the Seanad Independent Group, which I lead. I offer Julie our best wishes and thank her very much.

On a more important issue, I have spent all of my career in Seanad Éireann as an advocate. I do not see myself as a politician. I am a politician, but my principal job is to be an advocate for the voiceless, the people who do not always have a say and who are frozen out from dialogue and political engagement and that is what I will always continue to be. Yes, people have rights and democracy is democracy, but let us all be respectful and give ourselves the space to articulate the views that we believe in. "Choice" is a word that is tossed all around the place, but we must respect everyone’s decision and everyone’s choice. That is really important.

Today I want to make another plea for the people who were in residential care in institutions in this State run by religious and by non-religious, by the State and by the private sector, in education or in care in any form. We know they were vulnerable people. We know through the redress scheme and dialogue, as many here have articulated, that many suffered at the hands of those who were entrusted to look after them. Many of them suffered mental abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse and torture. They were humiliated and undermined. Their connection with their families was cut. Today, there are people outside this House on a hunger strike seeking advocacy and an enhanced medical card. I simply ask that Members not walk by the gate today without stopping and talking to them and listening to them. They are real people with real lives but most of them do not have something that most of us have – partners, families or friends. They feel forgotten and marginalised. As long as I am here, for every day and hour I am here, I am committed to doing it because I lived that life myself. I walked that road and shared that experience. That is what empowers my gut and drives me. I will not be stopped, discouraged or dissuaded. I will be true to myself and I will not stand for something I do not believe in. I thank my colleagues. Many have been consistently supportive of me in this advocacy work and I hope I can continue for a long time to keep that work, that candle and that flame burning. We have a task – we have an honour and a privilege – to shine a light in a dark place, to give hope to people. I hope we will be united, as most of us are, to continue with that advocacy work.