Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann Nicky McFadden, leis an Taoiseach agus le Páirtí Fhine Gael as ucht bás Nicky. Níl aon amhras ach gur oibrigh sí go dian dícheallach ar son muintir a dúiche féin. Bhí sin soiléir do gach duine. Bhain gach duine taitneamh as a comhluadar agus an méid a dhein sí, ní hamháin mar Theachta Dála ach mar chomhairleoir agus Seanadóir chomh maith.

On behalf of my party, I sympathise with the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael Party on the very sad loss and the passing of Nicky McFadden. We extend our sympathy to her family, her daughter, Caren, and her son, Eoin. She represented the very best of commitment to public service in the country. Very often politics can attract negative commentary, but we can stand back and reflect on the life and career of a person like Nicky McFadden, whose fundamental motivation was to serve the public as a county councillor from 1999 until 2007 and as a Senator who was delighted to be elected to the Dáil in the general election in 2011. She made an outstanding contribution and had a key interest in the arts and education. Being a member of the vocational education committee and the community college in her native town, she was genuinely committed to these issues. She was passionate about those who had been left behind in housing and ensuring people had access to education. She will be a major loss to the Dáil and public life.

Deputy Robert Troy speaks highly of Nicky McFadden's basic human characteristics. She was a very nice person who got on well with all those who came into contact with her. She bore a difficult condition bravely. Motor neuron disease strikes terror into any family or person with a diagnosis, but it did not stop her bravely organising a number of functions, with Fine Gael colleagues, particularly the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, to focus attention on the disease and act as a catalyst to resource research into the condition, advance treatment and, ultimately, identify a cure. She led the way in that regard and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for that bravery and commitment. Until the end, she maintained her political service to the people of whom she was so fond, her constituents across the board. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a hanam.

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