Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with other colleagues in the tributes that have been paid to former councillor, Manus "Mandy" Kelly, from County Donegal. I met him on many occasions and got to know him better in recent weeks during the European Parliament election campaign in which he was very active. He stood for Donegal County Council despite being a very busy businessman and community activist. He put his name forward after his cousin, James Pat McDaid, who was a young councillor, decided to step down and not seek re-election on this occasion. I join in the tributes that have been paid to Manus and extend my sympathies to his wife, his five children, his parents, and to the community in Letterkenny and parish of Glenswilly who are devastated at his death. Yesterday, I talked to Councillor Ciarán Brogan and I know that he and his colleagues on the Donegal County Council are devastated.

As we are aware, our colleague, Senator Billy Lawless, and his family run a number of very successful businesses in Chicago and employ over 600 people from various ethnic backgrounds, including many Irish people. This week, a chef from his restaurant called The Dearborn, chef Aaron Cuschieri, won a prestigious national competition on the Food Network television channel that is broadcast coast to coast in the United States. In an interview following his success, chef Cuschieri said that it was such a great accomplishment, not just for himself but for The Dearborn and that he won it for everyone from his bosses to the dishwashers. I take this opportunity to congratulate chef Cuschieri, his colleagues, his family, Senator Billy Lawless and all the Lawless family on this fantastic achievement.