Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I too pay tribute to the late Paddy Lalor and join previous speakers in welcoming his family to the House. I acknowledge and pay tribute to them too because family members who give up their space and time are the unsung heroes of many of us who serve in public life. Paddy's late wife, Myra, and other family members allowed him to be the representative he became. We are now in the position of paying tribute to his long and distinguished career, not only in Laois and the constituency of Laoighis-Offaly, but also as a member of Government and one of the first representatives sent by the Dáil to the European Parliament and subsequently elected to the Parliament by the public.

During my formative years, Paddy Lalor was a senior figure in the Fianna Fáil organisation in Laoighis-Offaly and he remained in a senior position for a long time. After his retirement, he remained very involved in and committed to his community and constituency and, primarily, the party we have the privilege to represent when we go before the people.

Paddy Lalor served with my late father and I record my family's appreciation for his commitment and dedication to the Fianna Fáil Party and Laoighis-Offaly constituency. He set a standard that has been followed by others and it has been a great privilege to follow in his footsteps as a public representative. It is with great pride and fondness that we remember his commitment as a public representative.

We also acknowledge other aspects of Paddy's character which helped him represent people in the way he did.

There was the teak toughness that was learned on the fields of County Laois. As near neighbours and competitors, to which Deputy Willie Penrose alluded, when you were hit by a Laois man, you felt it. He had a great appreciation of the GAA and the GAA fraternity and was most praiseworthy of his neighbour's success when the county won all-Ireland titles in the 1980s, at the expense of Laois, it might be said. They were a fine team and, were it not for Offaly's advancement, I have no doubt that they would have been the ones to take the accolades at the time. He acknowledged this and supported them as if they were his own.

I again thank Paddy's family for their commitment to him and, as has been said by previous speakers more eminent than me, they can be hugely proud of his achievements and efforts. Long may he be remembered. I have no doubt that we will see to it that that is the case because the constituency is all the better for him having represented it.

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