Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, pay tribute to my colleague and, more important, my friend, Senator Denis Landy, who has announced today his unexpected retirement from this House. Denis has made a huge contribution to local and national politics and to Labour Party politics in Tipperary, across Munster and across Ireland over almost 30 years in elected office of one description or another. As Senator Gavan said, Denis was a very proud socialist. His socialism was of a practical variety. He did what he said. He believed in what he was doing and he believed what he was doing was right. He was and is a solid trade unionist and somebody with an enormous track record of delivery in his community and across the country. I do not believe there is a former or current county councillor in this country who does not know Denis Landy personally. Denis has always provided any excellent service to city and county councils across this country. Indeed, he was a very proud town councillor representing Carrick-on-Suir for many years. He was a very proud advocate of town councils and what they can achieve. He would be very amused by the remarks of Senator Michael McDowell. Senator McDowell referred to himself and to Denis as radicals in the same breath. It may be fair to say they are on different ends of the political spectrum, but radicals nonetheless. I do accept that Senator McDowell is, indeed, a radical, but one with whom I may not always agree.

I do agree, however, with Senator McDowell's reference to what I would describe as the misuse of State funds to promote political ends.I almost crashed my socialist-issue Skoda when I heard those advertisements which give the impression that the State is awarding some kind of gift to the self-employed in the form of the benefits they would receive and to which they are entitled through the payment of a PRSI stamp. It is not radical for self-employed people to be provided with these benefits. It is a welcome and necessary step that I welcome.

It would be remiss of me not to reflect on the resignation of the Tánaiste. I take no satisfaction whatsoever in the decision the Tánaiste had made and I mean that sincerely. I served with Deputy Fitzgerald at Cabinet level and we all know that she has many fine qualities. We and the entire country knew that by 7 p.m. last night, only one option was available to the Tánaiste but unfortunately it took some time for the Tánaiste and Taoiseach to accept the inevitability of what was happening. My colleague, Senator Bacik, made the point articulately earlier that we need not have been in the middle of a political crisis over the past few days, had the answers to the questions tabled by my colleague, Deputy Kelly, in the normal course of parliamentary accountability, transparency and democracy, been addressed. Quite the opposite happened. Those questions were thwarted, he was denied the truth and he continues to be denied the truth. Answers were delayed and obfuscation was the order of the day. When the Minister for Justice and Equality addresses the Dáil later, which I am told he intends to do, the first thing he should do is apologise directly to my colleague, Deputy Kelly.