Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Senator Willie Farrell. I knew him from the early 1980s, and regardless of whether it was at a council meeting, in the Chamber here or at a CPP meeting, whenever Senator Farrell spoke everybody listened. He always had something worthwhile to say and as the Leader of the House said, he was very much into the issue of alcohol abuse. He spoke very strongly about it and made it a national campaign in this House on several occasions. Week after week he raised the issue of the abuse of alcohol and the difficulties it caused to families and homes throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Willie Farrell was a great golfer. He was a former captain of Bundoran Golf Club. When he was captain of the Oireachtas Golf Society here he led an outing to his beloved home club, Bundoran. He took us to Rosses Point as well and we had a great few days there. He enjoyed playing golf, which is hard enough to play with two hands. Willie Farrell, however, was a champion with one arm. Whether in wind, rain, hail or snow, if there was an Oireachtas outing Willie Farrell was always there.

I have very fond memories of the late Senator and I want to be associated with the motions of sympathy to his family.