Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to pay a brief tribute to a former Senator and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Séamus Dolan. I welcome Bríd and the Dolan family to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, along with my constituency colleagues, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and Deputies Rory O'Hanlon, Margaret Conlon and Seymour Crawford. I apologise for my constituency colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who wants to be associated with the tributes to the late, great Senator Séamus Dolan.

I have been a Member of this House for nine years. I am proud to be a Member of the House and I look forward to coming back here fairly soon. During those nine years, I have waited for an opportunity to correct our national treasure, Senator Joe O'Toole. I am glad he has given me the opportunity to do so on this day, as we pay tribute to Senator Séamus Dolan. Senator Dolan was born in 1914 in Gubaveeney, deep in the heart of west Cavan. While I accept that it is close to the border of Fermanagh, and I welcome Mr. Gerry McHugh, MLA, who represents Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the Northern Ireland Assembly, we are proud of the fact that Senator Séamus Dolan was born deep in the heart of west Cavan.