Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join others in paying tribute to Martin J., an exceptional politician. While I did not have the opportunity to serve with him in the Houses I certainly would not have been here without his advice, support and blatant canvassing on my behalf in 2002 to ensure that I got across the line, for which I will be eternally grateful to him.

Senator Norris touched on what he was also for me and that is a true champion of the west, a man who saw and grew up at a time when the west made a strategic and necessary contribution to all of Ireland. Sadly, throughout most of our political lives we have fought to try to ensure that the west continues to be acknowledged for the strategic contribution that it can make and he was certainly a pioneer in that regard. While he would have celebrated many achievements that he, with others, would have pioneered from an infrastructural perspective - some have mentioned Knock and the intercounty railway committee with Father Micheál McGréil and others - there were many others for which we all continue to fight.

Senator Norris referred to him as being old school in the best possible way. The new politics could do with taking the good parts from the past and realising that people are what politics is and that people are what economies are. Martin J. O'Toole epitomised that as somebody who knew about business, exporting, farming and the genuine needs of people who had less that he or that others may have had. For that reason we should look to Martin J. and his contribution as an example.

To all the family, our sincere condolences. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to attend at the funeral but I know his former colleague, my father, Ray MacSharry, would like me to again sympathise on behalf of all of us. It would also be remiss of me - I am sure he would like me to say it when he is there - not to mention the great friendship between him and a former Cathaoirleach, Rory Kiely, who is in Visitors Gallery for the tributes today. Rory, a former Cathaoirleach, was I understand the longest serving Member of Seanad Éireann. He served throughout all of Martin J.'s term in the Oireachtas. It is great to see him here today, another legend of his own time.

Sincere condolences to all. I hope that all of us who are still here can learn honour in some way through our contribution the great contribution by Martin J. O'Toole at every level of political life.