Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I express my sympathy to Martin McGuinness's wife, family and to his colleagues in both Houses of the Oireachtas. From talking to several of his colleagues today, I know how profound and sad his passing has been for them and their work.

When one looks at his legacy, it is complex to say the least. He had a remarkable journey. He finished school at the age of 15 and passed away at 66. That is a short life. I was thinking how short that life was because he seemed to be always there. However, when one looks at the facts, from the age of 15 to 66, he spent most of his life as what people term “republican”. Today is not a day for a debate about the true values of what a republic is. However, all Members in both Houses are republicans in the true meaning of what it means. A republic values all, gives equal opportunity to all, and allows all, no matter how diverse they are, to express their points of view and where they have come from. Everyone has that right, regardless of whatever tradition or culture they come from, to express their views. It is right that they are at least listened to and appreciated.

One of the remarkable things for me about Martin McGuinness was that he was a man who acknowledged his membership of the IRA and never denied it. Terrible things happened to people on all sides during what we call the Northern Troubles and so many families lost loved ones on all sides. There were so many conspiracies, double deals, double talks and mistrust on all sides of the argument and of the debate.

In many ways, Martin crossed swords, literally, with many people. He had his own vision of the Ireland he wanted to see. That was his right. He articulated that and stood by it. Time and time again, he proved in the end that he had the ability to bring people with him. That must have been personally difficult for him because he had to convince and persuade others to change course, to abandon certain policies and ideologies to go forward.That is not an easy thing to do in politics or anywhere else. He renounced, and had to renounce, his earlier political arguments and convictions because he saw another way and he led another way. To his credit, we have to give him that.

He ultimately accepted that a ceasefire was necessary to open talks for peace which led to the Good Friday Agreement. We will always have to acknowledge that.

In the last years of his life, he worked tirelessly as a peacemaker. As Martin's family and friends prepare for what is going to be a Christian funeral, I am reminded of some words from the Beatitudes. Someone might ask what an Anglican is doing looking up the Beatitudes. I took the time to look at them today because when I was coming in this morning, I found myself dwelling on "blessed are the peacemakers". For those who profess to be Christian, and live by the Christian principles and wish to follow the Christian burial or funeral rite, they would believe in some of these things. I want to reflect on two short sentences from that. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers." He has indeed left us a legacy. How one chooses to interpret that is a matter for themselves. May he rest in peace.