Gerard P. Craughwell: Highlights blue light heroes, backs survivors
Gerard P. Craughwell spoke in support of recognising the blue light and voluntary sectors and outlined outreach by the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse in Northern Ireland. He praised search and rescue volunteers and encouraged people who experienced institutional abuse in Northern Ireland to contact the Commissioner's office.
Event in Belfast
Tomorrow night in Belfast there will be an event recognising those who work in the blue light sector for excellence and volunteers in the voluntary sector. Craughwell recalled that one of last year's top awardees was a man from Wexford with search and rescue dogs, noting the high level of training and international work his dogs have undertaken.
Plans for the award event
He said there is a hope the same event will move to the Republic of Ireland later this year or early next year, and argued it is right and proper to recognise those who put their lives on the line saving life. He framed recognition as an important way to honour both paid and voluntary emergency workers.
Commissioner outreach on institutional abuse
The Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse in Northern Ireland contacted Craughwell and provided a brochure asking people who lived in institutions in Northern Ireland who may have suffered abuse to make contact with the Commissioner's office. He acknowledged that abuse occurred in the Republic of Ireland and other places too, and welcomed the Commissioner's proactive efforts to find people and provide support.
Brochures, contact details and social media note
Craughwell said brochures are available in his office and that anyone who wants one for their local area can email him to request one. He added that details will be posted on his various social media channels but noted he is not on X, calling it "a toxic place" and saying "everybody should get to hell off it."
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Go to Mark, let's clear here, look. Tomorrow night in Belfast there will be an event recognising those who work in the blue light sector for excellence and those who are in the voluntary sector as well. One of the great things about that event last year was one of the top people awarded was a man from Wexford with search and rescue dogs. It's incredible the level of training that goes into his dogs. They've worked internationally in very serious situations. So I think it's something we should be very proud of. There is a hope that the same event will move to the Republic of Ireland later on this year or early next year. And I think it's only right and proper that we should recognise those from the blue light sector and the voluntary sector that put their lives on the line in saving life. Just very quickly, the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse in Northern Ireland has contacted me and provided a brochure asking people who lived in institutions in Northern Ireland who may have suffered abuse. And we've discussed that many times in this house, abuse in the Republic of Ireland. The same happened in the north of Ireland and various other parts around the world. But the Commissioner has actually produced this brochure and is calling on people to make contact with our office. Details will be available on my various social media, except for X. I'm not on X. But I think I should say that because it's a toxic place and everybody should get to hell off it. But anyway, leaving that aside, the brochures I have in my office, if anybody wants one for their local area back home, you can drop me an email and I'll send you one. I think it's a really important thing that the Commissioner is proactive in trying to find people and provide the supports they need. So thank you very much for your time.
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