Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Barrett's proposal to send the best wishes of the House to Nelson Mandela on his 95th birthday today. This occasion is wonderful for the world and it is being celebrated throughout the world. It is proposed in South Africa that people dedicate 67 minutes of their time today to helping others in honour of Nelson Mandela. It is a lovely gesture and I hope it will be repeated here. I recall the joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas which was addressed by Nelson Mandela. I was a Member of the Dáil at that time. It was a great honour to welcome him to Ireland. He also attended the Special Olympics in 2003. The years he spent in Robben Island and his dedication to the ending of apartheid was an inspiration for people throughout the world and throughout America, where apartheid, in a sense, is still being exercised in many areas, as highlighted by the recent tragic death of a young black person. Kadar Asmal was a lecturer in Trinity College and subsequently became Minister for Water in South Africa. We should also recall today those heroic workers in Dunnes Stores who boycotted South African fruit in support of the anti-apartheid movement. Those women should also be recognised today, on Nelson Mandela's birthday, for their contribution. They were absolutely courageous in the stand they took.