Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The Independent Members wish to be associated with the words of condolence offered by the previous speakers. None of us served in this House with either of the two former Senators. I knew the former Senator Mannion quite well. He was on very friendly terms with the former Leader of the House, former Senator Maurice Manning. I met him when he visited the House and in Clifden on a number of occasions. I am aware of his family tradition of commitment to the needs of the west of Ireland which he represented at county council, Dáil and Seanad level. I did not have the opportunity to meet former Senator Pat Codd but we express our condolences to the families of both.