Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Before we go into private session some members were anxious to pay some respects to the late Hugo Chávez, the President of Venezuela, who passed away yesterday. He was a very popular man among his people, having won three elections, the last of them only a few months ago. Unfortunately he was very ill during that election and died yesterday. He brought about many social changes in his country which is rich in oil reserves. He was very popular in South America. I propose that the committee express sympathy with the government and the people of Venezuela and that we write a letter to the ambassador.

Do any members wish to comment on this event?

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the Chairman’s remarks. It would be important that we send some sort of note to the Venezuelan ambassador on the death of the president. That is the norm in this committee.

David Norris (Independent)
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I am quite relieved that he is dead because he had a most terrible, agonising illness and on a human level I hope that he is at peace.

The desperate efforts to keep him alive were really awful for him. He obviously inspired huge devotion. When his deputy was speaking today, his voice was breaking with emotion. Significant numbers of the poor, deprived and marginalised people in Venezuela will feel the same way. Apparently there were mixed views on him, but he was democratically elected. He was not a dictator.

We should also remember today the wonderful courage of an Irish television crew who were present when attempts were made to organise a really dangerous coup sponsored by the CIA against Hugo Chávez, and taking the ball on the hop they were there to record it in a magnificent documentary called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". We should be proud as a people that our good journalists played such an important role in that.

It is appropriate that we extend sympathy to the Venezuelan people who have lost a great leader and the Government of Venezuela.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to be associated with that expression of sympathy. It is always very traumatic when the Head of State passes away, particularly in tragic circumstances with such an illness. President Chávez achieved significant results for his people. Not everybody agreed with him, but in democracies that does not always happen. Even in this democracy it does not always happen. I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I formally join with members in sending deepest sympathy to the people of Venezuela on the tragic death of Hugo Chávez. In the light of the debate we have just had on oil and gas, he did the complete opposite; he used the wealth of his country to better the lot of the poor. I do not think there are many oil oligarchs in Venezuela. I wish to join others in the expression of sympathy to his family and the people of Venezuela

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I apologise for not being present earlier. I have missed an interesting meeting. President Chávez was democratically elected by the people of his country so our expressions of condolences and our sympathy should be sent via the ambassador to the government and the people of Venezuela. Senator Norris referred to the considerable suffering but I presume he had an amazing will to live for himself and his people and that is the reason he endured that treatment. An acknowledgement of the medical system in Cuba which has been to the fore in looking after President Chávez is warranted.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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We will do that. May he rest in peace.