Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On behalf of the Sinn Féin Deputies in this House I extend our sympathy to Deputy Eamon Gilmore and the members of the Labour Party on their loss on the passing of former Deputy Joe Sherlock. I also extend our sympathy to Joe's widow, Ellen, his sons Seán, our colleague in the Dáil, Joe junior and his daughter Úna, as well as to the extended Sherlock family and all the bereaved. I and others who knew Joe Sherlock better never believed that, after the parting of the ways of our respective routes in politics, he was anything other than what he had always been. I and others have always sincerely respected Joe for being a republican, a socialist and, as I learned from my own experience of coming into this House, a gentleman. His quiet and respectful manner and his ease with people, already referred to in the case of new Deputies, was something very much noted and appreciated. I have no doubt that the views I have expressed are the observations of many in my party and I happy to put those views of Joe on the official record today. Like previous speakers I will certainly miss his unique style and his particular use of language in this House, which was a feature of certain aspects of the day's schedule in which Joe was always a participant. The short time he lived after his retirement from the Houses of the Oireachtas is a signal to us all of how short life can be and reminds us to be mindful of the passage of time in all our cases.

I again extend my sympathy to Joe's son, Seán, who is present today and I have no doubt he will convey the sympathy of all colleagues to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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