Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I did not know the former Senator Farrell, but on behalf of the Labour Party I would like to express our sympathies to her husband and children. The former Senator was an exceptional person because, as Senator Hayes said, women were rare in politics in those days and female business people were even rarer.

I knew Roscommon slightly in the middle to late 1960s. To set up a business there and create employment in those days was a considerable achievement, given that it was not the most attractive investment climate. As I recall, it was a poor county.

We, in the Labour Party, would like to pay tribute to the late Peggy Farrell because, as Senator O'Toole said, we should pay tribute to all those who have given service, which was often thankless. She made a contribution to Irish life. The ICA in which she was very involved has also made an enormous contribution to Irish life. We would like to be associated with the tributes and the expressions of sympathy to her family.