Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I join Deputy Kenny and the Tánaiste in expressing sympathy to the Mills family on the death of Michael Mills. He had a long record as a political journalist and a political commentator. His views and opinions were taken very seriously because he took politics very seriously and examined what the Dáil and political parties were doing. As a journalist, he examined policy issues in a very deep way over a long time. As has been said, he was also the first Ombudsman. He established the Office of the Ombudsman and the reputation of that office. Indeed, he had to defend that office when an attempt was made to close it down at the end of his first term.

He will be missed very much by his family and his many friends, and I add to the words of sympathy that have been expressed this morning.

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