Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Shinn Féin, déanaim comhbhrón le clann agus cairde Gay Byrne.

Gay Byrne's contribution to the public discourse as both a journalist and broadcaster was immense and enduring. From the early days of RTÉ until the present, he occupied a very special place in the hearts and minds of many Irish people. Since news of his passing yesterday afternoon, Gay Byrne has rightfully received tributes as a broadcaster without equal. It is fair to say that he changed the nature of broadcasting in the State and reshaped how we discuss many important issues. Gay Byrne made a massive contribution to Irish life, a contribution that very often transcended broadcasting itself. In many respects, his voice narrated the story of the State for more than three decades. It is a testament to his talent and his ability that even at times when one did not agree with him one could still recognise the importance of the work he did.

If it is possible to describe Gay Byrne's legacy simply, I would say it is that he got people talking about issues that they very often did not want to talk about. He shifted a code of silence that ran through generations. He turned the key. He built a stage on which people could tell their stories and he will be very greatly missed.

I extend my condolences and those of Sinn Féin to his wife, Kathleen, his daughters, Suzy and Crona, to the wider family circle and to his many friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

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