Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I was deeply sorry to learn of the death of Austin Currie late yesterday evening. He will be remembered, above all, as a politician of conviction and somebody who stood up and was counted and never, in a long career, allowed any form of intimidation to get in his way. He showed huge courage as he strived to bring peace to our island through his service to the people he represented, uniquely, both North and South on this island. As one of the founders of the Social and Democratic Labour Party alongside John Hume, Gerry Fitt, Seamus Mallon and others, he was central to the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, famously commencing with a housing campaign of which we are all well aware. He showed huge conviction and spirit in how he brought that to the attention of a global audience. He helped to chart a course of reconciliation on this island through his work.

A generation of giants has now passed who brought reconciliation and peace to our island. Their legacy lives on today in the peace we all share. On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend my condolences to Austin's beloved wife of 53 years, Anita, his children, Estelle, Caitríona, Dualta, Austin and our colleague, Emer, and the rest of his family, friends and former colleagues in the SDLP and, in particular, his colleagues in Fine Gael. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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