Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice to those of all previous speakers. I had the great privilege of knowing Paddy Lalor for 30 years or more. Deputy Seán Fleming has alluded to the 1987 general election when he was director of elections and responsible, for better or worse, for adding me to the ticket in Kildare South.

I thank the Lalor family because, by being here, they give us the opportunity to reflect on the contribution their father made at constituency, national and European level. As other speakers said, they can be hugely proud of the fact that he made a real difference to the lives of people in the constituency, the country and Europe. That is something very few people have the opportunity to do. I very much regret the fact that I was out of the country at the time his death. I will remember him, first and foremost, as a family man. Nobody knows better than they that he and Myra were at the centre of that great family. I remember him as a warm, likeable and admirable gentleman. For my part, it was a privilege to know him and a privilege to call him a friend.

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