Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

On behalf of all the Labour Deputies I join in the tributes to Mick Phelan. He is one of the people who always brightens up Dáil Éireann, particularly when one comes in on a wet day, such as today, and he encourages one to keep on going, just as he encourages Kildare to keep going. He has given long service stretching back to the time of Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach. He served before that in the Army and the Military Police and has a military bearing on all occasions. It has been a particular delight to have worked with Mick and to have been the recipient of his courtesy and encouragement on so many occasions. When one comes here as a new Deputy it can be very confusing; it is somewhat like the first day at school having to learn the ropes. I hope that Mick and his wife Patricia enjoy a happy a retirement. I know that he brought the luck to the ushers in their recent lotto win.

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