Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I want to be associated with the warm tributes to Tony Kett and I extend sympathies to his family. I did not know him very well having only been appointed to the Seanad in 2002 but when one goes to a funeral one really enjoys, if it is fair to say that, one comes away from it wishing I had known the man better. That is a measure of who he was, and that is what I felt at his funeral. The most touching aspect was the poem his daughter wrote because the love, tenderness and closeness within his family was obvious. At the end of the day, one's family is the most important thing. Despite all his achievements in public office through the Fianna Fáil Party, the Central Remedial Clinic and all other areas working for his community, to which every Member has paid tribute, the one aspect I got from the little I knew of him was that he was a terribly modest man but, as Senator Fitzgerald said, a hard-working man who got things done. That was very much in evidence among the community who attended his funeral.

I am glad Tony's family and friends, the people who were the cornerstone of his life, are present to hear the tributes being paid to him because he was a remarkable individual. I was glad to know him in the short time I did. As I said - if it is not insensitive to say such a thing - I enjoyed his funeral a great deal. He was a remarkable man who brought much warmth and happiness to many people's lives. I am glad to have had the opportunity to pay tribute to him.