Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise primarily to express sympathy to the McFadden family on the death of poor Nicky, and also to express my sympathy to the Fine Gael Party for their sad loss. She was an outstanding public representative who was cut down in her prime. I cannot find any cause for complaint with all the eulogies that have been uttered so far today. Her legacy will remain long in the memory in this House. By way of ensuring that legacy, I suggest the Leader encourage the Government to provide more money for motor neurone research. There is a centre in Trinity College Dublin, and those who followed the equally painful journey of Colm Murray will be familiar with the sterling work being carried out by a professor in this area. It is the most cruel of diseases, in that it eats from the inside, and the last sense one has is that one's brain is still active. One is fully aware of all that happening right to the end. It is the most cruel of diseases. Along with Alzheimer's disease, it is the curse of this generation. Perhaps the greatest legacy that could be left to the memory of Nicky, who worked so tirelessly for research in this area by raising funds during the later period of her illness, would be for the Government to provide funds for this research.

I would also like to express my deep sympathy to the family of the late former Senator and Lord Ballyedmond, Edward Haughey. Although he was Ireland's richest man and could have bought this entire building and maybe half of Dublin, I was always bemused by the fact that we both shared a secretary. He was Northern Ireland spokesman for the Fianna Fáil Party during his tenure in the House. I served with him in this House and also on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, where he made an outstanding contribution. After his ten year tenure in the House, he was elevated to the House of Lords, which was a unique situation. I think he is the only Irish citizen to have served in both Houses. It was sad to some degree that his talents were lost to this State when he left this House and moved his focus to the United Kingdom Parliament. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.