Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

As a newcomer to the Seanad I would like to be associated with the remarks made about the late Myles Staunton. I met him and Marianne some years ago and admired him from a distance because of the work he did in the local community, politics and local development. As someone who is married to a Mayo man, I would never be forgiven if I let this great occasion pass and did not pay tribute to a great Mayo man who did so much for his community of Westport. I am from Clifton and was always jealous of the work that took place in Westport.

Many communities wished they had the likes of Myles Staunton to work with and for them. Much has been said about his involvement with the development of Knock airport and Allergan. He was involved in business, seaweed, peace, power and natural resources. He had vision and foresight when nobody else did. I could not put it better than Councillor Mullaney who referred to Myles Staunton and the great work he had done for the Mayo power project at Killala. He said: "Great credit goes to the promoters of the project and in a special way I would like to acknowledge the important role played by the late, very great, Myles Staunton. I can say without contradiction that without Myles this project would never have happened. "

One could not mention all the projects with which he was involved in Mayo and the western seaboard. Nothing moved in the area without his having a hand in it. I thank him on behalf of the people of the west and the country. I have knowledge of the work he did when he was in the Seanad. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.