Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This morning was like no other morning in that we woke up to the realisation that our friend and comrade, Martin McGuinness, had passed away during the night. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader for making provision for statements at a later date but I do not think Members should be curtailed from making their own personal contributions in regard to the passing of Martin McGuinness. I express my heartfelt sympathy to Bernie and his children. Martin was not only a political leader for us in Sinn Féin, he was an inspiration for peace and freedom around the world.We had already had a horrific week in Belmullet and Blacksod, as Senator Swanick has already said, with the tragic accident that has taken the lives of Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith. On behalf of the whole community of Erris and the wider Mayo area and my party, I extend our sympathy to the families of the crew of R116. They will forever remain in the hearts of the people of Erris and the people of Mayo. All we want at this stage is for Mark, Paul and Ciarán to be reunited with their families. I commend the work of the Irish Coast Guard, all those involved in the search in Blacksod and all the people in the local community, including the local fishermen, all of whom have done everything they could over the past week to support the families and help with the search. If there is one positive action to come from this horror, it must be that we now put the Irish Coast Guard on a statutory footing, and we must do so as a matter of urgency.

The area of the search in Blacksod Bay was one with which Martin McGuinness was very familiar, having been to the Inishkea islands and Inishglora. I thank all the previous speakers from all political persuasions and none for the deluge of messages and expressions of sympathy I have received from them this morning. Republicans across Ireland will mourn Martin's passing because he is recognised across Ireland and internationally as a statesman and peacemaker. Martin was a regular visitor to the west, particularly to Mayo, in both a personal and political capacity. He joined me on many occasions on the election trail and had a genuine connection and affinity with all those he met. He came to Mayo during his presidential campaign in 2011 and was received with great warmth. He was also a regular visitor to the west in a personal capacity and believed strongly in the potential of the region and its need for investment. He had a keen sense of the importance of rural Ireland to the republican project. Although we have lost a great leader today, a wonderful legacy of peace has been left with us. We must now continue and achieve what Martin started. The aims of Irish freedom and unity were central to his life, and we owe it to him to make these his legacy.

I also extend my sympathy - I know Martin would want to do likewise - to the families of Ryan McBride and Maureen Haughey, who passed away during the week. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.