Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to be associated with the remarks of other Deputies. I commend my constituency colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, and Deputy Costello on the manner in which the House has dealt with this business. We have all praised the work of the Minister. I said last night that the family, whom I am glad to see in the Visitors Gallery again this evening, appreciates what the Minister did and the manner in which he met them and listened to what they had to say. We should commend the family, Jean and Stephen Nowlan, the parents of baby Pierce, and Phyllis, his paternal grandmother, and wish them well. They have witnessed history here. Other colleagues made the point that they brought all the parties in the Dáil together, which is a significant achievement, but they have done much more than that. I said last night, and I hope it is true, that the passage of this Bill will stand as a memorial to Pierce Nowlan. We must not forget that it is about him.

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