John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

On my own behalf and that of the Green Party I offer sympathy to Deputy Seán Sherlock and his family on the death of our late colleague, Joe Sherlock. I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Joe. Untimely deaths such as this put everything into perspective. Only weeks previously Joe celebrated what was undoubtedly one of the proudest days of his life when Seán succeeded him in representing Cork East for the Labour Party. I know from speaking to my colleague, Senator Dan Boyle, that Joe was hugely involved in the campaign, as he had been in other campaigns over years, such as the campaign for Mallow hospital and the sugar factory, as my colleagues have said. The work put into those campaigns by Joe Sherlock shows the level of feeling and empathy he had for the ordinary working people of north Cork. I believe this stems from his own background in the agricultural industry and, in particular, the sugar factory, which in turn led to his involvement in the trade union movement. His understanding of his locality and the people of north Cork was a significant factor in his ability to hold a seat for the Workers' Party in a predominantly agricultural constituency.

Joe was a very hard worker and was held in very deep affection by his constituents. He went on to contest the seat first for the Democratic Left and, later, for the Labour Party, never failing to remember his duty to the people whom he met on the farms and in the factories all around Cork. Undoubtedly his presence in the constituency will be sorely missed, though I have no doubt his son Seán will continue his good work.

This year is the tenth anniversary of the passing of another great Labour figure, Jim Kemmy, and today we mourn the loss of another great socialist, Joe Sherlock. Like others in the House, we will miss other aspects of Joe Sherlock. As Deputy Kenny said, we will miss his distinctive voice but I will always remember his smile and his kind words for new Deputies. I express my profound sympathy and that of my party to the Sherlock family and Joe's friends but especially to his wife, Ellen, and his children Úna, Joseph and Seán, who now sits in this House as Joe's very able successor. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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