Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Acting Chair, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and all the ladies who are Members of the House and elsewhere with whom I am friendly. I wish my wife Margaret and my five daughters, six granddaughters, three wonderful sisters, daughters-in-law and sisters in law all the very best on this very important day. I also wish the best to my office team. I could not manage without them. They are mainly females as well. I refer to Geraldine, Tríona, Cathy, who is out on maternity leave, Vivienne, Joanne, Mairéad, Councillor Máirín and others who help me, including Caroline who is standing in. I could not function in my job as a Teachta Dála without these wonderful people and their support.

Like Deputy Troy, I had a powerful mother who worked very hard. She raised nine children on a family farm. Like Deputy Troy's mother, she was a wonderful role model and she instilled values into her children. She worked very hard and went without herself to look after us.

I salute the late great former Deputy Carrie Acheson who died recently. She was from Clonmel. She was the voice of the ploughing and the Clonmel show. She was a voice for many people. She was a powerful woman in her time. She did so much work as a public representative and as a woman in all of the many organisations of which she was a member. She was involved in the local ploughing in Tipperary.

5 o’clock

I would want a day to list it all. I suppose we will be having expressions of sympathy for her in the House. She was a fabulous politician and a fabulous worker when she was in this House, with her sister, former Senator Tras Honan. I salute all the women who work so hard and give of their lives to make their families and their world a better place.

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