John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I am happy to join in the tributes being made to the late Seán O'Leary and to extend our sympathy to his wife, children and the Fine Gael Party on his passing. His achievements have been well documented but apart from his political expertise, which was legendary, what emerges from many of the tributes passed to him at the time of his death was the fact that he was a man of great charm and humour. They were characteristics which are also worth recording.

I was interested to read that he stood in a general election before he became a member of Cork Corporation and that he met his wife at the count in Cork in Jack Lynch's constituency. Perhaps on top of all the other reasons for not having electronic voting there is another one there in that——