Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I did not really know Kieran until I arrived here three years ago. I liked him and I looked up to him and respected him a great deal. He died around the same time that the Taoiseach was about to open the new bypass in Rathdowney, which is on my way home to Kerry. In the last conversation I had with Kieran I asked him the time of the opening and he said he would ring me the following morning, and that call never came. It was a tremendous shock when Senator Glynn rang me to say he had passed away. What a shock it was to Senator Wilson and all his friends who stayed in the hotel and were with him in his final hours. What a huge shock it was to his lovely mother and wife, and all the family. We saw that sense of shock and loss at the funeral mass in Rathdowney.

I just want to say one word about Kieran. For me he was an example because he was a loyal and proud Member of the Seanad. He was always here for every vote and every session. The Leader will confirm that he never missed any of the Fianna Fáil group meetings. He was always there. I am the kind of fellow who tries to do his best always but, with human frailty being what it is, I sometimes go off-side. The very odd time that I missed a vote I would be far more afraid of facing Kieran Phelan than the Whip because he would let one have it. That is genuine.

He was a lovely man and he will be greatly missed. I am proud that all of his family are here. It will be a great memento for them in the future.