Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I begin by paying tribute to the late Shane McEntee, who served the constituency of Meath East with great commitment and loyalty. His tragic and early departure is a great loss to the people of Meath East, to the Government and to this House, as well as a profound personal loss for his family. As a democrat and believer in free speech, I believe that robust and open debate is not only part of politics, but is an essential prerequisite for it. However, the sad circumstances that have given rise to this by-election place an onus on each of us in this House and outside it to conduct that debate in a way that is respectful, fair and decent. I therefore call on every citizen, activist and representative to observe the politics of decency in this by-election campaign.

In considering the candidate to replace him, the people of Meath East will have a clear choice. They can vote for a candidate from the Opposition benches - a candidate from the party which caused Ireland's economic mess and which is now seeking to do its best to scurry away from it-----

See this speech in context