Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I knew Peter for some time. We had been to the same school and had done the same course in university. However, like many people here I got to know him during the financial crash. It feels like a bit of a therapy session. I refer to the numbers Peter had. When it came to the financial crash and managing it, he was passionate - there are no two ways to describe it. He would engage in conversation at length. We heard about this earlier on. I remember one particular occasion - I cannot remember what the issue was, but my wife was with me - when Peter's argument was along the following lines: Gonzaga boy to Gonzaga boy, I plead with you not to do some something or other. My wife looked at us and said it was a long time since either of us was a boy. He had that boyishness, uplifting, optimistic and engaged way. He was a relic of old decency and a gentleman. However, with it was passion.

I was beaten by Peter in Dublin South in the 2011 general election. In a number of different ways, it was not a bad experience. One of the ways was to see the Mathews family in action on the election trail. People do not really understand urban Ireland or South Dublin maybe as well as they should. They think it is different from rural Ireland but it is not. Just as they say down the country that they are waiting to open up the Mullinahone box to see what happens, it is pretty similar in Dublin Bay South in the sense that we vote in tribes. We are tribes. The Mathews's are a tribe. Mount Merrion is a tribe. That tribe swung to victory that time and it was good to see because there is a recognition in the closed community world that the Mathews tribe have that decency and the same boyishness and uplifting character. There would be the same enjoyable conversation and one would come away from it richer for the experience. It is a real loss that he is not involved in Irish public life and a far greater loss for his family. It is lovely that we remember him and them today.

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