Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liomsa freisin mo chomhbhrón a chur in iúl do chlann an iar Sheanadóir, Jimmy Mulroy. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil muid go léir tagtha le chéile inniu chun cuimhneamh a dhéanamh ar an obair a rinne sé sa Seanad agus le linn a shaol. I welcome the family and pay tribute to Jimmy Mulroy both for his work in the Seanad and indeed for his entire life. Senator Mooney who served with Jimmy highlighted a number of the nominees who were appointed to the Seanad with Jimmy. I think Senator Mooney probably agrees with me that he vastly underplayed that. The Taoiseach's nominees in 1987 were one of the most distinguished group of politicians ever appointed to this Seanad. I will list them all. There was a minority of party appointees, nearly all of whom were businesspeople, which shows the way Mr. Haughey was thinking at the time. Seamus Cullimore from Wexford was a Fianna Fáil Senator and a businessman. Senator Mooney mentioned an Sheanadóir Éamon de Buitléar and Professor George Eogan who is one of the most famous archaeologists in the world. The playwright Brian Friel was appointed to the Seanad at that time. Tom McEllistrim from Fianna Fáil and the racing figure John Magnier were appointed as well. Another appointee was the hotelier Vivian O'Callaghan from Bantry. Dr. John O'Connell, who died recently, was appointed that year and became Minister for Health. Nicholas O'Connor was a businessman from the Gaeltacht with Irish language connections. Another appointee was John Robb who was one of the first people from a Protestant or Unionist background to sit in this House and emphasise the cross-Border role.

An exceptional group of people was appointed to the Seanad in 1987 by Mr. Haughey. When one looks at it like that, it was a tremendous honour for Jimmy to be included in that because there was a minority of political appointments and the political appointments were, by and large, businesspeople - employers and entrepreneurs. I suppose that was the mood at the time. When Fianna Fáil came into power in 1987, the country was obviously facing a huge crisis and the objective was to reduce the debt and to get people back to work. It is like what is happening today. As a ten-year-old at the time, I remember very vividly the economic difficulties faced by businesspeople. The cultural side that Mr. Haughey was very keen on and the business and the practical side are reflected in those Seanad nominations. It was a huge honour for Jimmy to have been among that special group of 11 people who were appointed to the Seanad at the time.

I also express the sympathy of my father and family. It was done before at the time of Jimmy's passing. My father served on Drogheda Corporation with Jimmy for 15 years and he was a very good colleague. He was always talking about investment for Drogheda and bringing jobs to the town. I remember as a ten or 12-year-old hearing the news on Boyneside Radio or LMFM. I vividly remember Jimmy talking about natural gas for Drogheda and bringing factories or jobs to Drogheda. They were just two of the things that were very important at the time. He was a great Gaelic footballer and is remembered locally for that. Senator Brennan very fairly and eloquently set out Jimmy's record on that.

I will conclude by expressing my sympathies and thanking the family for being here and Deputy Kirk and the Seanad leadership for organising this. I express my sympathies to Chris, Helen, Caoimhe, Christine and Cormac and the lovely grandchildren. It is great to be here and it is wonderful that we remember this and that this is on the record of the Seanad. That may be important for the family so that in the time to come, they can look back on this debate as well as all of Jimmy's contributions which remain on the record of the Seanad.