Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, cuirim fáilte roimh an gclann Aylward anseo inniu.

I was first elected to Kilkenny County Council in 2004. Bobby had served for a few years on the local authority at that stage, so I had the privilege of serving with him for a few years before he was first elected to Dáil Éireann. Even on my first day, which, like anyone's first day after an election can be a very daunting experience, Bobby was the first person over to me to offer his support and whatever help he could. That was the measure of the man he was. I was elected mayor in 2009 and he wrote a beautiful letter to me. Both of us contested the 2015 by-election. Like Deputy Funchion said, it was always a great pleasure to meet Bobby out canvassing wherever it was. When you saw an entourage of Bobby's team coming down the street, you knew you were defeated anyway. It was great, however. He was great fun and a great companion.

One of the early challenging issues we had to address shortly after being elected in 2004 was a Traveller horse project in County Kilkenny. I will never forget the way Bobby spoke in favour of that project. Discussions around issues concerning Travellers could always be challenging in local authorities back then and it still is the case at times. I will never forget it. It struck me then at that early stage that Bobby was a man for the common good. From that day on, I could not but be deeply impressed by his sense of justice and what was right. We are hearing in spades about the measure of Bobby Aylward this afternoon. He was a man rooted in his community in rural Ireland; his beloved Ballyhale Shamrocks and farming. As I said, though, above all, he was also a man with a deep sense of the common good.

Back in 2015, when I contested my first by-election, we had fun in the hustings but in debates as well. He brought that common-sense approach. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle said, that was always deeply impressive from him. I express my sympathies to Helena and the whole Aylward family. We are very privileged for having met a man the measure of Bobby Aylward. It is a great privilege to have known him. The tributes paid to him today are testament to what he represents.

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