Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like many in this House, I was saddened when I turned on RTE radio this morning to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness. As on all such occasions, our first thoughts are with his wife, Bernie, his children and grandchildren and his extended family, which, as others have said, were the first centre of his life. I also think of the Sinn Féin Deputies who knew Martin as a friend and colleague and all of those outside this House who also knew him as a friend and colleague.

The role Martin McGuinness played in bringing peace and reconciliation to our island will never be forgotten. He did not do so alone but his was an important role. As we remember his life, we cannot escape the appreciation of how far we have come since the darkest days of the Troubles. Many of us have been privileged to have been many decades in this House and we have seen a slow evolution from a very dark place to a better place.

As we remember Martin McGuinness's life, we also think that his, like all our lives, is written in chapters. It is appropriate that today we concentrate largely on the later chapters of that life and leave the rest to the historians. It is clear, however, that Martin McGuinness was a man who came to realise that the way to peace is through understanding, empathy and compromise and not through other means.

Many will remember - some in this House have already referenced it - the moment five years ago that Martin McGuinness shook hands with Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Belfast. As was pointed out in the media this morning, such a gesture between a former IRA commander and the head of the British Commonwealth would once have been unimaginable.

We will not forget Martin McGuinness's real and truly warm relationship with Ian Paisley. Peace is essentially built upon human understanding and personal friendships. That two people from such opposing walks of life could come together to walk the path towards a common goal of achieving peace and stability in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland is a testament to how politics can bridge even the darkest divisions between us. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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