Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On behalf of the Independent Members I wish to be associated with the words of the Leader of the House and of Senator Brian Hayes. There is very little more to be said. I served with Larry McMahon for two terms in this House. I knew him for many years prior to that because he was part of the old County Dublin constituency. Although Councillor McMahon was based in Boharnabreena which is the part of the county farthest away from where I lived, he had long tentacles that stretched into the middle of my parish. The extended McMahon and Ward family of north Dublin ensured that in the early days when the county was all one constituency there would always be votes for Larry McMahon coming out of the Rolestown box. His brother, Pat, was a very good neighbour of mine for many years. When I was a teacher I had great pleasure in having Larry's nieces and nephews as my students. The extended McMahon family has always been a fantastic family.

Larry was a stalwart within his party and within the political system. As the Leader said, he was a man of exceptionally courteous behaviour. He was also as argumentative a man as one could hope to deal with in a day's walk. He and I held many differing views on issues being discussed at the time. However, whatever arguments we had about issues either in this House or outside, it never became personalised; he always argued on the issue in hand and on the point of principle. He was a politician to be proud of, the kind of politician of which there are some in every parliament, who despite differences of views will be held in widespread and universal respect. He was prepared to exchange views and argue and engage with people who held views completely different from his. The creative tension between differing points of view allows political progress to be made. This was his great contribution.

My extended family of in-laws would have been closely associated with him and involved in the old County Dublin executive of the IFA and associated activities. I can assure the House that were he here today, he would have a matter on the Adjournment or be demanding a debate on what action this country was planning to save the poultry industry from avian influenza. He was a turkey farmer and had a wealth of commitment, experience and knowledge of the industry. He would be hammering the table and insisting on being heard on the subject.

Larry was committed to his party but he had rows with its members as often as he had rows with any of the rest of us. His great strength was that he stood by his beliefs and followed them to the limit, which is really all that one would ask of a committed politician.

I could say more but I would simply be repeating what has already been said by others. Caithfidh mé a rá gurbh duine den scoth é. Rinne sé a dhícheall ar son a Dháil cheantair agus ar son saol polaitíochta na tíre go ginearálta. We offer our condolences from these benches to the extended family and to his party. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.