Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Ceann Comhairle for their leadership during yesterday's historic address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was an extraordinary moment for us parliamentarians and also for our country. Huge kudos goes to H.E. Larysa Gerasko, the Ukrainian ambassador, and our ambassador to Ukraine, H.E. Jonathan Conlon. An amazing job was done by all. I was absolutely honoured to be asked to chaperone the First Lady, Mrs. Olena Zelenska. Seeing at first hand President Zelenskyy's address to the joint sitting of the Houses and his request for help during war, appealing for hope and solidarity and thanking us for the protection of his people, is something I certainly will remember. I was struck by his comment that freedom must be protected every day, in every generation, or else it will disappear. I thank both Houses of the Oireachtas for rising to the occasion with dignity and with céad míle fáilte from the Irish.

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming to the Gallery two amazing guys and friends of mine, Brendan Hurson and Emmet McCarthy. I met them when they first came to Tiglin when they were in trouble through addiction. They have allowed me to share their story. Their lives were chaotic and they were disenfranchised and marginalised. Today, they have just completed the Dublin city marathon, they are engaged in education and management and they have secure housing. They are building lives when before they were on the scrap heap, as they would say themselves. Now they are kicking the ball out of the park.

Their story matters because it shows that when recovery is supported, with supported housing, detoxification and sobriety support, etc., it makes a difference for everyone in the community. The team at Tiglin has put in place a continuum of care, with detoxification, homeless outreach and housing supports, as well as educational and employment supports. When all that works together, we have recovery in its truest form. I have put a proposal from the charity to the Minister for Health to ensure organisations like Tiglin, Merchant's Quay Ireland and Cuan Mhuire are supported in the full context of a continuum of care. Brendan and Emmet are living proof that recovery is possible. It shows what Ireland can achieve when the proper supports are there. I am proud to have them both as friends and well done to them for what they have achieved.