Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín became upset as he spoke in the Dáil about a family member’s Alzheimer’s condition.
The Meath West TD was unable to complete his speech during a debate on dementia.
Speaking about his relative, he struggled to control his emotions, pausing for several seconds, before attempting to continue. But, unable to do so, he asked others to continue the debate.
Tóibín had paid tribute to the work of Jordan and Cian Adams, who did 33 marathons in 33 days – 32 in Ireland, one in each county, together with the London marathon – to raise awareness of dementia and funds for frontotemporal dementia research.
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Their campaign was in honour of their mother, Geraldine, who died from the disease in 2016.
The Aontú leader said theirs was an incredible feat.
The brothers and family members observed the debate from the visitors’ gallery.
Tóibín offered his deepest sympathies “for the loss of their mother, Geraldine, at such a young age”.
He described early onset dementia as a serious blow and challenge and urged the Government “to do all it can for research and development”.
“Like many others, I also have loved ones in my family who have suffered from dementia,” he said. “It is an enormous challenge; there is no doubt about it.
“It significantly changes many aspects of that individual. Obviously, it’s called the ‘long goodbye’ and over time, you feel you lose certain aspects of the loved one.
“The truth is, their essence is always there and that’s important as well to remember. It gradually takes away the memory, confidence and independence, and affects that person’s ability to drive, manage finances and to stay connected with the world and community.
“And it also profoundly affects spouses, sons, daughters, neighbours, friends, who have to deal with it too.”
However, “it is important to say that many people with dementia and many people with Alzheimer’s can be very happy in themselves, and sometimes nearly the people around the individual suffer more in relation to the experience.
“I’m very lucky. In our case, the individual who has Alzheimer’s is not anxious, not stressed, and doesn’t have those difficulties. And I would say we would be lost in our family if it were not for the Alzheimer’s Society and the amazing work that they do.
“My family member attends the Alzheimer’s Society on a daily basis and gets enormous support, love, and care and treatment, and would be lost without it. And the family would be lost without it too.
“So it is a very pivotal element of a person’s care. Homecare remains the backbone of dementia support,” he said, then stopped for some seconds.
Attempting to continue as he struggled to control his voice, he said homecare “allows for people to remain familiar in their surroundings. It connects them to their family and their community.”
He then stopped and asked acting chair Micheál Carrigy to continue the debate with other speakers.
Earlier, opening the debate, Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell outlined the stark figures of a growing dementia problem. He said an estimated 64,000 people are living with dementia in Ireland, with some 11,000 new cases each year.
“This figure is expected to rise to approximately 150,000 people by 2045, necessitating a sustained Government, HSE and societal response to keep people with dementia living as well as possible at home for as long as possible,” he said.
