Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I too extend my sympathy to her family on Nuala's death. While I did not ever meet her, I had the honour of working with her daughter Jacqueline on a gender and equality committee for Fine Gael a number of years ago.

Looking back on her life, and having the opportunity to read her autobiography as many others did here, what really struck me is that I completely agree she was a trailblazer for women, not only in politics but in the torch she held for women in everyday life.

What I admire immensely about her as a politician is she was clearly mission driven as a social reformer. Her seminal work in areas like Women's Aid in getting rid of that awful term "illegitimacy" made an immense difference to people's lives. It continues to make an immense difference for the amount of women who have come to me since I became a politician who need help in the area of women's refuge and around the whole issue of domestic violence. She was a true champion and we must remember the work we may continue today has come from her.

Mission driven in that way is clearly the best type of politician to vote for. When one comes into politics, one can sway this way and that, but to be that clear about her role as a politician is a lesson for us all and is truly admirable, and it is fair to say her legacy lives on.

When I read her book, it helped me as a woman in politics. It is interesting what Senator Cummins stated. Sometimes you have feelings as a woman in politics and often you do not know is it just yourself or do others have them as well. Reading that book really did help me, especially when she spoke about the whole world of male politics and how in many cases it presented blocks to her as opposed to encouragement, and yet she continued because she believed in her mission. She knew why she had chosen this path. It was a lucky stroke for Ireland that she and former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, came together at that point in history because that was good for women's lot.

Clearly, she was a formidable woman. It cannot be easy for family to follow in her footsteps, but at the same time what an honour it is because it is a true inspiration for a family to have had such a mother, wife and grandmother. For me, it also has been really good to hear what everybody else has said about her here today. It is an opportunity again to reflect on how important it is to have a mission in politics.