Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I attend the House today as a result of the absence and untimely death of our colleague, Senator Kate Walsh. She was a great friend to all of us. For those who wanted advice, there was no better place to go than to her office. I never got more joy than from gate-crashing the many courts she held in her office where she had high tea after the Order of Business on many afternoons. One could sit there for half an hour or more recalling the political, party and local events of the week. She possibly knew more about what was going on in Castleknock and other places than she did about Celbridge due to the many friends she had throughout the country. The parish priest of Laurel Lodge, my area, knew her some 25 years ago and over the past five years not a Sunday has passed without him asking me "How is Kate Walsh?". They kept in regular contact over those 25 years and I believe he will say her mass on Friday morning.

I offer my condolences to Senator Walsh's many friends, especially those in the Visitors Gallery, particularly, Adrienne Maher, secretary to Deputy Fiona O'Malley. Senator Walsh brought much life to our corridor and will certainly be missed there. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.