Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Fianna Fail)

I am honoured to express my sorrow and empathy to his beautiful wife Mary at the shock that she must have got that morning when we heard here the news with disbelief. It is sad that one must walk in the shoes of another person for seven miles before one can experience his or her pain, but I say it to Mary in very humble words.

It is sad for Delia to lose her son. I thank Delia, who I met in the hospital. I did not know Kieran well. He was on a different floor to me and, as she can hear from here today, those who were on his floor knew one another. I discovered later, for other reasons, why. He actually was not very friendly to me for my first few years here and then I discovered that he was a competitor of mine. Interestingly, I did not have this warm friendly relationship until the past 12 months. In the past 12 months when the Taoiseach was under severe pressure in Government, on the Order of Business I would push home the Government's position because I believe we must be loyal to the Taoiseach and to the Government. Maybe behind closed doors one might give out, but not in public. Every time I praised the Taoiseach, or the Minister, Deputy Harney, for that matter, Kieran gave me a big smile and our relationship grew out of me defending the Government. When I met Delia at the funeral and she said, "I know all about you, Mary", I was so delighted.

I am very pleased that Brendan is carrying the flag for the Phelan family. I offer my condolences to every one of his widely talented brothers. I know his brother in South Africa the best, and I knew him well before I knew Kieran.

My memories of Kieran are of him delighted that I was supporting the Taoiseach here and pushing home the Government's position.

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