Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I am humbled to be in the presence of such a colossus of the political landscape and to be among distinguished colleagues in the House who have paid John Hume due tribute. I share the view of historian, Senator Mansergh, who equated John Hume to Daniel O'Connell in terms of his activities. One could also refer to Grattan, Parnell, John Redmond, the blood sacrifice of 1621 and the modern Irish leaders. Many young people were in the Public Gallery while John Hume made his contribution. Their sons and daughters will read about the events of the last 30 years in history classes but they will be able to say they were present in the Seanad when John Hume, who has contributed so much to the peace process, addressed it.

Enoch Powell, with whom John Hume crossed swords on a number of occasions, reputedly said a politician's destiny inevitably ends in failure. John Hume will look askance at what is happening in the North and, hopefully, he will respond to questions raised about the current crisis in the peace process. However, none of us will look on his career as one that ended in failure. His achievements shine brightly and, irrespective of how the process proceeds, his legacy places a great burden on the next political generation and I hope it will rise to meet the aspirations he loftily put together and will achieve what he has achieved in his time.