Sean Barrett (Independent)

Mary Robinson's first family planning Bill was launched on 3 March 1971 but was defeated on 7 July. However, that did not deter her in her advocacy of human rights. She sought to allow couples of different religions to be eligible to adopt children. With Trevor West and John Horgan, she introduced family planning Bills in 1973 and 1974. She represented the plaintiffs in an amazing array of cases, including some dealing with the right to import contraceptives, the right of women to serve on juries - it is incredible that this was actually an issue in our lifetimes - free legal aid and family law, the succession rights of non-married persons, the right to remarry where a spouse was still alive, and the right to information. She adopted all of these great causes. She is good at the catchphrase too: in its time "Mná na hÉireann" was the equivalent of "Yes we can".

We remember warmly Mary Robinson's contributions to reconciling the traditions on the island. She was the first President to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies. In May 1993 she visited the Queen in Buckingham Palace and three weeks later the west Belfast community festival. We remember her visits to Somalia and Rwanda and the Irish famine memorial at Grosse-Île near Montreal, a deeply moving place which must have influenced her in her concern for places in which famine occurs today and her work on climate change. We also remember her visit to Manchester after an IRA bomb attack in June 1996 and Enniskillen for the funeral of a Member of this House, Senator Gordon Wilson.

Mary Robinson is a proud representative of the west and, following her example, the posts of President, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad are all now held by people from there. The other three provinces may well need the advocacy of somebody such as Mary Robinson to ensure they will have access to major political posts in Irish public life. She has also put down roots in this city, especially in this neighbourhood. She led an early conservation movement to save Wood Quay. Her husband Nicholas has strong connections with Westland Row and they first met at TCD. Her climate change work takes place at the end of Kildare Street, on the first turn right. In a little garden at the back of the Rubrics in TCD Professor George Dawson developed a new variety of daffodil called "Mary Robinson". I hope they grow well and that Dr. Robinson enjoys every spring as they come to life again. I understand they also grow in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.

I wish to end with a note on Dr. Robinson's kindness. It is taken from the biography by Olivia O'Leary and Helen Burke and refers to the legal work she undertook when Senator David Norris, who is beside me now and who will be asking questions presently along with Senator Crown, challenged the laws against homosexual practice in 1980. The the book states:

I asked David to write down for me what it was like as a boy and as a teenager. He handwrote for me one of the most moving accounts and the tears came to my eyes as I read of the hurt and pain; the raw pain is what I remember.

I commend these emotions and I thank Dr. Robinson profusely for coming to the House and I wish her well in all her many endeavours on addressing climate change.