Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I want to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Martin McGuinness and to his colleagues here in the Sinn Féin Party. I had the honour of meeting him only last year at the time of the general election when David Cullinane was elected in Waterford. Within a short time of his election, Martin McGuinness arrived down to Waterford in the south east to acknowledge David's election and to support him. I had a few moments with Martin at that time. I had stood as a candidate and in the course of our conversation I told him I had worked with Greenpeace and I had been on the Rainbow Warrior. Immediately he reacted and said, "I am so sorry for the loss of your friend". He had an experience back in 1985 and was able to refer to it. He was a man of tremendous experience and had quite a complex life. I sincerely hope his legacy of peace will be brought forward by his party, North and South, and that peace and justice will prevail in this country for ever more. That would be the best legacy of Martin McGuinness and his memory. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and to the Sinn Féin Party.