Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I was elected to this House in 2002 on the same day as Kieran. Shortly after that election I had the pleasure of sharing his company on the train to Dublin and from that day up to that very sad day in May of this year, we got on like a house on fire.

Without going over everything that was said, Kieran was a true gentleman. It was always a pleasure to meet him. In the cut and thrust of politics we can say things, we can be highly motivated and emotive but it was a pleasure to meet somebody who had the calming and soothing effect of Kieran Phelan. He was a real gentleman and I do not say that lightly.

I had the pleasure of sitting beside him last year at the Christmas party organised by the Chief Whip, Senator Wilson, and it was a laugh a minute. He was excellent company socially. He was a great colleague at political level.

Attending his funeral mass on that Sunday morning was obviously very sad but it was also very beautiful. The tributes paid to him by the Taoiseach and by the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, the music, the prayers and the general coming together of colleagues at a place far away from most of our homes on that morning to pay tribute to Kieran Phelan is something that will stand out in my mind. In many respects, it says a great deal about the man that he had that type of respect not only while he was alive and working as a colleague but the huge outpouring of sympathy from his shocked and stunned colleagues is a great tribute to him. I hope it is a great source of consolation to his mother, Delia, to Mary, Fiona, Martina, Brenda, Aisling and Patrick. It is wonderful to see his grandchild Noah in the House today.

He has joined other colleagues of this House, Kate Walsh, Tony Kett and Peter Callanan, and I hope he rests in peace.