Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On my behalf and that of the Independents 4 Change technical group, I extend sympathy to Maura and the family of our former colleague, Peter Kelly. As everybody has said, Peter was a wonderful colleague. I served with him on the communications and energy committee and he certainly brightened every room he entered. As colleagues have said, he had a tremendous knowledge of politics and political lore as Albert Reynolds's chief lieutenant and in his career as a councillor and Deputy. One of his mantras was that, as politicians, we all need the odd mention in a newspaper, both locally and nationally, but it is really important not to become the story. He used to give chapter and verse of unfortunate colleagues who had become the story.

He used to do a famous canvass on Christmas Eve down the main street in Longford with carol singers to raise funds. He would always give us an interesting account of the people he met. It is interesting as this year we will all probably be canvassing to some extent over the Christmas holidays. We can appreciate Peter's achievements in that regard. He was a fantastic colleague and a highly valued Member of the Oireachtas. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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