Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I thank the Leader for the warm tributes she paid to two of our colleagues, David Molony and Michael Queally, who died tragically recently. I did not know David Molony well, although in recent years I got to know him a little better. His death at the age of 52 was a tragic loss for his family, the Thurles and Tipperary North area and particularly for Fine Gael. We feel a great sense of loss.

David Molony was a great parliamentarian. He took seriously his roles as a Senator from 1977-81 and a Deputy from 1981-87. He was a politician of conviction as has been noted in a number of the obituaries written about him since his untimely death. There was a famous occasion during the 1986 divorce referendum campaign when the former Deputy Molony was chastised from the altar in his constituency. Nowadays, that would be seen by many as a benefit to politicians, but in those days it was somewhat different. It took great conviction for one who represented what was ostensibly a rural constituency to take the position he took in 1986. He was a man of deep conviction and of principle. His stance on the 1986 divorce referendum campaign highlighted that particular point.