Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I know that the leaders of each party in the Seanad will make their own statements, but on behalf of the House, and as Leader, I wish to say how honoured we are that Mr. Hume has agreed to attend today and to speak to us. When he announced that he was to retire from active public life — although I have every belief he will not actually retire — we had a debate on the Order of Business. Senator Brennan proposed that Mr. Hume be invited and we took up the suggestion joyfully, as did Mr. Hume, who in the spirit of reciprocity immediately accepted the invitation.

When Mr. Hume spoke today, he epitomised for all of us what has kept him going for all those years. His address was epic-like in its proportions, scope and humanity. Above all, it is those epic qualities which Mr. Hume possesses which have infused all his actions and all he has said over the years. We think of how valiant and courageous, but above all how full of hope, Mr. Hume has been. There must have been many occasions when hope seemed to have died, but Mr. Hume always emerged with his beliefs intact, in particular his belief that violence could be ended, that the territorial mindset of which he spoke so eloquently could be put to one side and that the mindset of people with their individual traditions could be absorbed.

We think of all the occasions over the past years when Mr. Hume has been the person who has spoken the right words which have captured the minds and feelings of people. We think of all the grieving people at gravesides, in particular the wives, sisters, sweethearts and mothers of people violently murdered. During all those years, Mr. Hume's belief in what could be brought about remained dominant. Mr. Hume referred to the Good Friday Agreement. Democracy is the touchstone. It is the one that lasts. People voted, and we have no right, north or south of the Border, to put aside the people's vote. We must stick with it.

I have a particularly fond memory of John Hume at a time when odium was being heaped on him because of a very courageous venture on which he had started — the venture of conversation, which is the most ordinary thing in the world, but which at that time seemed to be conversation with men of violence. He accepted and rose above that odium. That was a very important time, which was also referred to in this House.

Mr. Hume noted the Sunningdale Agreement, the New Ireland Forum and the events which flowed from them, which are hugely important to all of us. Mr. Hume has done us great honour in attending this House. People talking of the Seanad ask if there is a need for a bicameral system, a need for a second legislative Chamber. Occasions such as this make one believe there is such a need and this intimate but beautiful Chamber has been greatly honoured by Mr. Hume's visit today.

I have known John Hume for many years and I have always felt invigorated and exhilarated following conversations with him. There are distinguished visitors in attendance and we are very glad of their presence too. I will end with a quotation which has been used on many occasions. A splendid occasion such as this requires that we pay proper tribute to it. The quotation is from Seamus Heaney's poem, "The Cure at Troy":

History says, Don't hope

On this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

John Hume epitomises hope and history. We thank him for attending today.