Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the eight Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. I join those who have acknowledged today the centenary of the birth of T.K. Whitaker and I wish him a happy 100th birthday. It is important to acknowledge and pay tribute to him today as a former Member of this House, appointed by both Jack Lynch and Garret FitzGerald, which was a sign of his ability to override political divides. He has rightly been described as the Irishman of the last century and his contribution is one that we should underline in respect of the new modern Ireland. We can differ about ideology and politics but T.K. Whitaker put in place the structure that is now Ireland, economic and otherwise.I acknowledge his contribution.