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

On behalf of the Green Party I would like to join the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in expressing our sympathies to all three generations of the Aylward family.

I remember Bobby first from the 2007 election, when he replaced his brother and joined this House. In that time we would not have had day-to-day dealings. With myself as the Deputy for Dublin Bay South and he as the Deputy for Carlow-Kilkenny, we did not have immediate interactions over the course of the time of that Government, which went through a fairly arduous and difficult process for four years or so. However, one actually gets to test the character of the individual when one goes through very difficult times, when the voting is hard, when going out to the press is not easy, and when one must face constituents or go canvassing when times are tough. I remember Bobby at that time being a rock of sympathy, sense and support and with a good gallows humour in a way that gets one through a difficult time. It is a true test. He lost a seat in that election, like a lot of us did, but he showed that strength of character to come back. I remember reading the obituaries this summer, when the Taoiseach described that by-election when Bobby clearly impressed and moved the Taoiseach with the connection to community and to the people he clearly had. His decency did shine out. In the last election I must admit there was a certain amount of joy in our party when Deputy Malcom Noonan caught up. In that game and race, we are all engaged in the counts and we watch people jostling. Bobby just hit the last fence, as it were, and did not get that last seat. I was glad Malcolm did but the decency, strength and the regard the Aylward family have was notable at that time. It was with great regret that we took Bobby's seat. I commend him and his family on the service they have shown over the years, and continue to show, to the people of Carlow-Kilkenny and to our country.

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