Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

On behalf of my Fine Gael colleagues I express our deepest sympathy to the extended family of Senator Kate Walsh and, particularly, to her colleagues in the Progressive Democrats, on this great loss. It is a particularly sad occasion when a sitting Member of the Oireachtas dies and it is particularly poignant as we are on the eve of a dissolution. Kate Walsh is the first Member of this Oireachtas to have died in office. It is a great sadness. While everyone knew for the past year that Kate had been unwell and was fighting her illness with great conviction and courage, when the news came to my office yesterday morning it was a shock because we had seen her in the House before the Easter recess and she was in good form. She was still in the middle of treatment and was an inspiration to people who have to battle that awful disease and illness. While we knew she was unwell for a long period she showed great courage and stoicism in fighting her illness. It is a great shock that this should have happened.

The qualities that mark out Senator Walsh are many and are recognised on all sides of the House. She had a kind word to say of everyone. Anytime one met Kate she inquired, first, for the family and, second, how things were in the constituency. She had that remarkable capacity, unlike most politicians, of being interested in other people and of not being self-obsessed. She made one feel at ease and was always a terrific listener. That is the quality that stands out most, her ability to be kind to people and her interest in what one had to say.

There was no bitterness, no cynicism, no political bent to her. She was an inspiration to Members and staff in the House because she always had a kind word to say. She was so encouraging of individuals, particularly if one had made a mistake or said something that was untoward. She was a natural magnet to people. People loved to be in Kate Walsh's company. As Senator Dardis said people who were at the IPU conference loved to be in Kate's company because she was so good with people and was liked by so many.

She enjoyed her time in the Seanad and was greatly honoured at having been selected by the Taoiseach to be one of the 11 nominated Senators, on advice from the then Tánaiste, Deputy Harney. She felt greatly privileged that at this stage in her political career she had managed to become a Member of the Oireachtas. When she did speak in the House she spoke with great conviction and respect. Like Senator O'Rourke, I remember her contribution to the Garda Síochána Bill because I was involved in the passage of the legislation. I remember specifically her contribution on community policing. It was clear that she had a wide knowledge of community policing and had put much thought into the matter. Her contributions on that issue were utterly sincere, with no cheap lines or smart-alec remarks to get publicity. She did not contribute as much as others, but when she spoke, it was with great conviction and people listened with respect because she had something important to say. She also spoke regularly on matters concerning the elderly and social welfare. She was the Progressive Democrats spokesperson on social welfare.

During the last by-election campaign in north Kildare, in which she was the Progressive Democrats candidate, I recall visiting in my role as Fine Gael's director of elections for that constituency. Kate Walsh invited me to her house where we chatted for about two hours over tea. She then went back into her van and over the following few weeks greatly enjoyed waving regally at people as she went around Celbridge. During the course of that by-election I learned how hugely respected she was by people in that area. Celbridge is a unique community in many respects. In effect, it is a small village that has become a suburb of Dublin in recent years. Senator Kate Walsh's ability to garner votes from all political shades and backgrounds was astonishing. It was a great testimony to her work as an activist who was rooted in that community. As others have said, she was an astonishing vote getter, recording the highest number of first preference votes by any female candidate in the 1999 local elections.

On behalf of my party, I offer our sincere sympathy to Senator Kate Walsh's colleagues in the Progressive Democrats. Her influence as a member of the Progressive Democrats parliamentary party was of tremendous benefit to that party. Smaller political parties need the presence of people such as Kate Walsh as a means of reaching agreement, finding consensus and progressing with various matters. She certainly was such a person.

Her late husband, Eugene, was the greatest love of her life. Others have mentioned his commitment to the Garda Síochána, which Senator Kate Walsh continued in this House and in public pronouncements elsewhere. As they had no children, their love for each other was all the more profound and we can confidently say that they will now be finally reunited. She was looking forward to that day in so many ways.

I extend my sympathy and that of my colleagues to Senator Kate Walsh's colleagues and to her extended family. May she rest in peace.