Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Senator Máiría Cahill to the House. I was in Montenegro last week on Council of Europe business, so I was not here to congratulate her. I wish her every success. She replaces her colleague, Senator Jimmy Harte, and I know she will bring a unique experience to this House and will be a contributor to many debates. It adds to the quality of the House and is a great boost that she has been elected directly from the North, which is a great step forward. My grandparents came from Lurgan in County Armagh, so I have a connection with the North. I wish her success on both sides of the Border, whatever political life she pursues. She is certainly entitled to it. She was elected honourably and well and it was a great choice of candidate.

I concur with Senator Norris. It is good to recognise the work of a truly great Irishman in Sir Anthony O'Reilly. People are sometimes too quick to judge. While we will not go through his career today, what Senator Norris said is very true. The Ireland Fund alone has done enormous work around the country. In fact, I applied once on behalf of a project in Castlecoote in County Roscommon and I recall getting about £10,000 for a small community centre, which developed different opportunities for the area. He should certainly be recognised and this House should wish him well, whether we do that individually or collectively. I would love to meet that man, given his experiences in Ireland, his work throughout the world for Ireland and his work in taking on difficult tasks in regard to Waterford Crystal, in which he had great faith because it was an iconic brand and he felt it was worth preserving. It is a day of congratulation, although it is not a matter of congratulation to be declared bankrupt. As far as I am concerned, he still has the highest standing in Irish life and no bankruptcy will ever affect that. The work he has done for the people of Ireland will never be forgotten.