Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I support the comments of Senator John Crown on the passing of a great west Cork man, Professor Gerry O'Sullivan. As the Senator rightly said, Professor O'Sullivan was a pioneer in cancer research and was dedicated to the programme up to the very end. He originated from the small parish of Caheragh in west Cork and was very proud of his roots. He was a man who could mix with kings, but he never lost the common touch. He will be a huge loss to cancer research, the medical profession and not alone west Cork but the entire country, as well as internationally. A former Member, whom most Members would have known, the late, great Senator Peter Callanan once told me that Professor O'Sullivan had kept him on the planet for 20 years longer than expected after he had been diagnosed with cancer in 1989 and given six months to live. He served into his third term. He also paid tribute to Padre Pio, in whom he was a great believer. That is an anecdote of a late colleague of ours who survived owing to the excellent work, professionalism and dedication of Professor O'Sullivan. I was not going to raise the matter, but I take this opportunity to convey my condolences to Senator John Crown, who is also an expert in this field and a colleague of Professor O'Sullivan. I did not want his passing to go unnoticed in the Chamber.