Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is present. In the short time available to me, I will mention that I wear the badge of Liam Lynch who died 100 years ago and effectively brought about the end of the Civil War, which was great. When the Minister comes to Tiobraid Árann, I will bring him to the Knockmealdown Mountains to see the fine memorial to Liam Lynch. My late dad was the clerk of works at the time it was erected. He was also in prison for 14 months during the War of Independence and fought alongside Liam Lynch and others.

To come to the peace process and the work that was done, we can mention many people. Deputy Haughey mentioned Fr. Alec Reid coming to his house in Kinsealy years ago. I will mention Dr. Martin Mansergh and the late Fr. Reid of Clonard Monastery and formerly of Nenagh. Councillor Séamie Morris has asked for a long time to have Fr. Reid acknowledged in his home town of Nenagh. We must do so. Mo Mowlam and Bertie Ahern should never be forgotten - as we all know, he had to leave his mother's funeral to conclude the peace deal - in addition to many others, including John Hume, David Trimble and Sinn Féin leaders. I visited Stormont recently. It is an eerie place with the Ofig an Chéad-Aire closed and locked up. It is an eerie place and it is sad. We must also think of the people, Fr. Reid and his colleagues in Clonard Monastery.

We must also remember that Fr. Reid negotiated during the Basque war in Spain and helped there. He dedicated his life to peace. He also tried to end the first hunger strike and was devastated and took it very badly when the second hunger strike commenced. He was very down and out over that. He did so much work and dedicated his life to having meetings. He did many things, including negotiating the release of people who were kidnapped and everything else. A fitting tribute should be put in place. I call on Tipperary County Council, the museum, the Arts Council and everybody else to look at a memorial to the late Fr. Alec Reid in the town of Nenagh, County Tipperary. He was one of many who played a huge part, and he definitely did, alongside former Minister of State, Dr. Martin Mansergh.

That must be acknowledged and it should be done in memory of a great man.

See this speech in context