Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I answer that question, I wish to take a few moments to recognise the service of Mr. Jim Kelly, who has just been mentioned by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Jim was a massively important member of the Department of Foreign Affairs team. He was an ambassador and was central to our team in the UN Security Council since we joined that council. He passed away very unexpectedly last weekend. On behalf of the Government and of this House, I wish to recognise an extraordinary career of service to Irish foreign policy and the role he continued to play, as a father figure in many ways, for many of the younger people in the Department and particularly for the team in New York, where our team has performed in an extraordinary way in the face of so many challenges since we joined the UN Security Council. Jim was central to all that. I wish to express my condolences to his wife, Anne, his two daughters, Orla and Ciara, his extended family and his colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

See this speech in context