Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Is cúis mhór bróin dom go pearsanta agus do mo pháirtí go bhfuil sé seo le rá againn go léir. Ba mhaith liom, chomh fada agus is féidir, bheith pearsanta faoi seo.

When thinking of Kate in recent days one word has repeatedly come to mind and that is "warmth" because it radiated from her. I do not say such things lightly. One could feel her warmth both inside and outside this House and it was indicative of the things people have said about her. The warmth she emanated was recognised by her community in Celbridge, with which I am familiar, and by her party colleagues. Her commitment to the well-being of other people was extraordinary by any standards. She would have been embarrassed had anyone mentioned her generosity to her but, listening to her friends and colleagues, it is clear it was widely recognised.

When I first met Kate I asked my party colleagues from Kildare for their views on her. These colleagues will be known to Members of the House and at least one of them is not given to saying soft words about the political party of which she was a member. However, mentioning the name Kate Walsh caused an entirely different view to emerge and there was genuine affection, respect and feeling for her and the manner in which she cared for others. There was an extraordinary consensus on this among all those in County Kildare who had dealings, political or otherwise, with Kate.

Kate Walsh's capacity to be aware of other people was well illustrated by an experience of my colleague, Senator McCarthy, who, in a casual conversation, mentioned to her that he could not get a ticket for a rugby match. Within five days Kate Walsh produced a ticket to enable Michael McCarthy to go to the match in question. Senator McCarthy and I have no idea how this happened but it was typical of the woman and the way in which she dealt with other people.

It was an extraordinary privilege to have known Kate and I do not use those words lightly. She was a woman of exceptional qualities. Braithim uaim í, agus braithimid inár bpáirtí uainn í. Braithimid go bhfuil duine den scoth imithe uainn. Braithimid nach raibh leath dár theastaigh uaithi a dhéanamh déanta aici nuair a tógadh uainn í. Déanaim comhbhrón lena clann go speisialta, ach chomh maith leis sin leis an bPáirtí Daonlathach, mar tá ball den scoth caillte acu.

The Progressive Democrats have lost a formidable member and wonderful friend. In a personal capacity and on behalf of the Labour Party, I express my sorrow and sympathy with Senator Kate Walsh's family and party. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal dilís.