Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

"Between my finger and my thumb, the squat pen rests snug as a gun".

These words are familiar to all in this Chamber. The poet who wrote these lines, which are from the poem, "Digging", has passed away. I ask that the Leader offer our collective condolences and sympathy to the family of our Saoi, Nobel laureate and most important poet since W.B. Yeats, Seamus Heaney. The 30 August, the day Seamus Heaney died, was a sad day. He is a loss to his family, the world of poetry and the world of Irish society and Irish citizens. From the front cover of The New York Timesto the hourly news bulletins on our national broadcaster it was apparent to all of us that Seamus Heaney was both a global and local poet. He was beyond the parish yet he was part of it too. He was political and understood how poetry and theatre could offer clarity and illumination. He never shirked his responsibility as a citizen poet. He was a generous, inspiring, loving man and poet. I call on the Leader to set aside a modest amount of time to allow Senators to reflect on the death of this great poet and respond to his legacy.

In his play, "The Cure at Troy", he wrote these evocative lines:

History says, Don't hope
On this side of the grave,
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.

Speaking of history, the Taoiseach's nominees have tabled a motion on the history of the junior cycle for discussion during Private Members' time this evening. The motion seeks clarity from the Minister on what he means by history not being a core subject. It should not be dumbed down. I look forward to a robust debate on the syllabus and curriculum.