Alex White (Labour)

I join the Cathaoirleach and the Leader in expressing sympathy with Senator Callanan's family, his many friends in Cork and further afield and, as Senator Cummins stated, with the members of the Fianna Fáil Party in the House who have lost another one of their close colleagues and friends here.

I endorse what has been said about Senator Callanan. I found him to be a most courteous and agreeable man. It puts matters in perspective for me, and I said this to Senator Corrigan on the way in, that I had a conversation with Senator Callanan last week in the anteroom when we were speculating, musing and wondering about when there would and would not be votes in the House. I always found him to be a most engaging, friendly and courteous man.

He spent 30 years in public service which was, as the Cathaoirleach pointed out, most expert public service on behalf of the people he represented in County Cork, first as a councillor and then in this House. He is a considerable loss, principally to his wife Sheila, to the members of his family, to his friends and to his party. On behalf of the Labour Party, I express my deepest sympathies with his family and friends on his sad loss.