Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy

 

12:25 pm

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaorligh, agus Ach an oiread le mo chomhghleacaithe ar fad, ba mhaith liom fíor chaoin fáilte a chur roimh chlann Jimmy Mulroy anseo inniu. Is údar bróid dom é gur iarradh orm labhairt anseo inniu.

I welcome the family of Jimmy Mulroy to the House. I did not have the pleasure of knowing him as I am a younger Member of the House and am only here a couple of years. However, it is important to hear the tributes that have been paid to him as they are a testament to the man, particularly the pictures drawn by different speakers today. Tributes are important and I commend the Leader for arranging same. We must take time out of our hectic schedules and from debating important matters to pay tribute. We must give tributes their due reverence and importance and recognise the work that has been done by former Members, particularly on their passing. On behalf of the Sinn Féin group I wish to convey our sincerest comhbhrón ó chroí ar bhás Jimmy.

As I sat and listened to the tributes I was reminded that politics is a family game. The general public tend to see the public figure who is out front and centre, making speeches, attending meetings, etc., but we all know the support network that operates behind all politicians. Without family support we would be nothing. It is very important to recognise the role played by his family and the way they supported Jimmy in doing all of his public work. It is quite obvious from the testimony given today that he was a very honourable and decent man who did great work for his community and for the people of Drogheda. He was also a great man on the sports field and on the political field. His passing reminds us that it is a privilege to serve on behalf of the people whom we represent. We should never forget that and the support structures that operate behind us.

The only tiocfaidh ár lá that we need to think of today is that our day will come to all of us. Sometimes we can get very heated here during a political battle and while debating political issues. We need to remember that there is a humanity behind what we do, particularly during heated debates.

Thar mo cheann féin agus thar cheann baill Shinn Féin anseo sa Seanad agus sa Teach, ba mhaith ár gcomhbhrón ó chroí a chur in iúl dá chlann agus buíochas a ghlacadh as an deis seo labhairt faoi Jimmy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam agus anamacha na marbh ar fad.

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