Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the report of the Commission for Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, which was published yesterday? The commission is chaired by Mr. Pat Spillane and it was worrying to hear him say on radio this morning that he reckoned that of 64 GAA clubs in County Kerry, only 15 could mount a minor side of 15 players.

Those are areas we must address - rural areas and the problems of small towns. I ask the Leader to consider that.

I endorse the sentiments of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, on the death of the Canadian finance Minister, Jim Flaherty. It was ironic that on Thursday when the Leader was discussing with us the generous tributes to Daniel O'Connell by her majesty that we also mentioned Thomas D'Arcy Magee as one of the great Irish contributors to Canadian democracy. Later in the same day the longest standing finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, died. In his tribute the Minister, Deputy Noonan, said that he was forever accessible to the Government and the Irish community. He constantly championed the promotion of Irish related projects in Canada and as recently as St. Patrick’s Day the Minister, Mr. Flaherty, was the host to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, on his visit to Toronto. We worked very closely together in the IMF and the World Bank where Ireland and Canada share a constituency.

The success of Jim Flaherty was recognised by NUIG which conferred upon him an honorary degree. His success in the Canadian banking system was to restrain the excesses which were widespread throughout most countries where banks required to be rescued at huge cost, and also in maintaining order in the public finances. He is reported to have had 70 green ties and a dog called Guinness. The CN Tower in Toronto was illuminated in green last Friday and will be again tomorrow when he will get a state funeral. He is one of only three Canadians to have achieved a state funeral while not being a Minister. Thomas D'Arcy McGee is one of the others. Two of the three of those exceptional circumstances characterise the contribution which this country has made to the development of democracy and the Canadian constitution.

It is noteworthy that Jim Flaherty, who was from a working class background in Montreal, won a scholarship to Princeton and achieved so much of value for his country. The Canadian Prime Minister said Jim will be sorely missed not only by his friends on both sides of the House he will also be missed by countless thousands of Canadians to whom he devoted himself and whom he helped during his long and successful career. Our sympathies go to the Canadian ambassador, Loyola Hearn, and the Irish ambassador in Canada, Ray Bassett, and to Mr. Flaherty’s wife, Christine, his sons John, Galen and Quinn. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.