Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

It was with deep sadness that I learned of the tragic death of Liam Lawlor at the weekend. Liam Lawlor had strong contacts with my county of Laois. His late mother came from my village of Donaghmore and his father came from the village of Pike of Rushall, outside Borris-in-Ossory. His uncle Paddy and his first cousin still live in the area.

The people of my parish of Rathdowney in south County Laois and the people of County Laois in general are disgusted with the scandalous and scurrilous behaviour of the media over the weekend. If any Member of this House acted in the same way, he or she would have been chased out of office yesterday.