John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats I would like to be associated with this tribute to the late Ted Russell and extend our sympathy to his family and friends in Limerick.

It is common on these occasions to remark on the service of former Members but his is a remarkable record by any standards. Mr. Russell was a member of Limerick City Council for 37 years, served as mayor on five occasions and was a Member of both the Dáil and the Seanad. He was also a long-standing member of the chamber of commerce in the city and he was a director of many prominent companies. He was a central figure to the life of Limerick and surrounding areas.

He was an accomplished rugby player and a member of Bohemians rugby club from the 1930s. He got a final Irish trial and played for Munster before the Second World War. If it had not been for the intervention of the war, he would probably have gone on to greater representative honours. He donated land at Barrington's pier for a public park. From speaking to people over the past days, I understand he did a lot of charitable work in the city, much of it not recognised publicly but of benefit to people with very little.

For all of those reasons we should mark his passing and extend our sympathies to his family.