Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Joe Sherlock was in every sense an old-fashioned gentleman. The few women here know that he stood back if there was a lady present. That is not very common nowadays, certainly not in this House. He was a terrific campaigner for Mallow. Almost every time I met him after becoming Minister for Health and Children he raised something to do with Mallow Hospital. After the hospital had come first in the first hygiene audit I told him it was doing so well it did not need anything else. Shortly before the general election when we were coming to the end of the debate on either the Medical Practitioners Bill or the Pharmacy Bill, I told the officials I thought we had reached the final speaker when suddenly Joe Sherlock arrived and spoke about Mallow Hospital. I reminded him that the legislation had nothing to do with the hospital but he never missed an opportunity to put forward its case and in other instances, the case for his constituents.

Joe Sherlock was quietly effective. I knew that he had experienced bad health in recent years but when I inquired after his health, he always spoke positively. When I heard about his death, I thought it was sad that he had not had an opportunity to enjoy his retirement.

Unlike many parents here, he was proud of the fact that his son was going into politics. Deputy Seán Sherlock is probably unique because there are few children of politicians nowadays who are anxious to follow in their parents' footsteps. His father particularly hoped he would succeed him and I am sure he was very proud of his success in the recent general election. He has a hard act to follow. May his father rest in peace. We will all miss him very much.

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