Alex White (Labour)

On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend sympathy to the late Nuala Fennell's family and remember her here today. It is appropriate that we remember her as a great campaigner. I remember her as a great social reformer. The first time I came across her, as was the case for many people, was when she started to write in newspapers and the women's press which at the time was not particularly radical in its content. However, one of the things she did was to bring issues into the mainstream. Sometimes we underestimate the power and impact of well written and campaigning journalism. That is one of the many things Nuala Fennell demonstrated in the course of her very active political life. We owe her huge credit for all the work she did.

The sense of the period - the 1970s and 1980s - when Nuala Fennell was most prominent comes back to us when we revisit some of the issues, struggles and controversies of the time. We speak about Women's Aid and the organisations in which she was involved and established and which were portrayed and regarded by many at the time as being marginal. It was a huge struggle to get notice for the incredible and vital work they had to do. It is a great tribute to her and others, but Nuala Fennell, in particular, brought issues into the mainstream through journalism and political discourse. She, in turn, raised them in Parliament. As Senator Fitzgerald stated, we are inclined to brush aside some of her achievements such as abolishing the concept of illegitimacy and wonder how could we conceivably have had such a thing in our laws, but we did. We forget how difficult and what a struggle it was at the time for these issues to be confronted to bring about change. Nuala Fennell taught us that when people were steadfast and tenacious, they could bring about change.

At some stage we will assess whether we have made a contribution or have been in a position to bring about change, however marginal. I am sure colleagues will agree that we have to conclude that Nuala Fennell really did make a difference. In her autobiography she engaged in a rather modest assessment of her achievements. As a politician, she really did achieve things. She demonstrated that, with the tenacity political and social campaigners need, change could be brought about, even in an environment which looked hopeless, difficult and cold. I remember Nuala Fennell as a reformer, a very strong and great Irishwoman and a great politician as a Deputy for Dublin South, an area in which I have an interest. I note the presence in the Visitors Gallery of members of her family, to whom we convey our condolences and sympathy.