Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I speak today with great sadness at the passing of Dr Hillery and pay tribute to his many works. I do so with more of a personal note, however. Everyone has attested to the great professionalism that Dr Paddy Hillery brought to his various roles. He held the highest office in the land and represented Ireland internationally but as a man he was very much the backdrop in my family while I was growing up. He was very much in the background during my father's political career and at home we always knew him fondly as a person on whose advice one could rely.

It has been attested what a decent man he was, and a modest understated one, but people have referred to the strength the man had as well, and how he was able to stand up to various pressures. This is something that is not always remembered.

He was an understated man and this was noted in the area of education. While Donogh O'Malley has got all the tribute for great works done in promoting and advancing education in the country, it was Dr Hillery who did much of the groundwork. It was typical of the man and his modesty and understatement that he never for one moment sought any of the limelight for that.

Senator Alex White mentioned that Dr Hillery's was a different kind of public service. In some ways one laments that this is the case because it should not be so. A man such as Dr Hillery is one against whom we should measure ourselves as public servants. We should set ourselves those standards and the public service should not be any different nor our standards and our dedication to our country any different from the role model that Dr Hillery has left. It is the passing of an era. He was the last person who was part of de Valera's Government and as we pass into a new phase in politics in Ireland with a new Taoiseach about to be elected, it is a poignant reminder of how periods change.

I pay tribute also to Dr Hillery's wife, Maeve, whom I knew and from whom I learned much about County Clare, Lahinch and that area, and to his son John. I remember very well the time of the passing of Dr Hillery's daughter and what a very great personal sadness it was to him and to his family.

It is a sad day here but the former President is held in a very warm embrace by the public and I am sure that tribute will be a great comfort to his widow as we commence the State funeral. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.