Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also want to be associated with the tributes to the late Bernard McGlinchey who, as has already been said, served in this House from 1961 to 1982, having been elected to both the Industrial and Commercial Panel and the Administrative Panel, and a Taoiseach's nominee on two occasions.

I would not have known the late Senator McGlinchey as well as Senators MacSharry, Ó Domhnaill, Ó Murchú and others did, but I had a few encounters with him, I suppose, at Ard-Fheiseanna. I particularly remember one occasion, I think, during the 1997 Seanad campaign, having to travel to Donegal. Going to Donegal, for somebody from west Cork, was like going to Scotland. It was a different country. One felt exiled there, particularly looking for Seanad votes. He allowed me address the gathering. He ruled the Donegal council with an iron fist and on the day of the voting, he would call together all the Fianna Fáil councillors and those aligned to Fianna Fáil and, with an iron fist, dictate who they should vote for. That is why on the last occasion, on the panel that I ran in, I had difficulty even getting beyond Sligo. On the earlier occasion, he called me aside as we were leaving. He was very loyal to a particular Seanadóir at the time who was an acting whip on one occasion, the late Senator Paddy McGowan. He would have known of me having run for the Dáil and being in the Seanad. He said that he greatly feared the late Senator Paddy McGowan would be short a vote or two, and he encouraged me to help out his good colleague as best I could. He said - this is the first time I had come across this - that he would give me a vote on the panel, which was not the one I was recently elected on, and I would know it because he would use a green marker and Roman numerals. He said I would be getting the No. 1 and told me who would get the No. 2 and No. 3. I was astonished that at the count, where they slowly put out the papers, I was able to recognise the green marker and that he had honoured his commitment to me. It was an unusual technique. He was an established politician, obviously, revered in Donegal. One certainly would be persona non grata canvassing in Donegal on any panel if one had not some rapport with the late great Bernard McGlinchey. He will be sadly missed.

As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I convey my sympathy to all his political colleagues of all dimensions, particularly in Donegal, across the board, and to his family, and particularly the people of Donegal he represented loyally for so long. I offer my sincere sympathy to all concerned. At this juncture, it would be appropriate that I would ask the Members to stand for a minute's silence. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.