Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Feargal Quinn's family, friends and former colleagues to the House. I wish to pay tribute to him. I got to know him not as long ago as Senator McDowell perhaps, but in 2011. Obviously, I knew of him but I got to know him personally when I was first elected here. He was extremely kind to me as a new member of the Seanad, very encouraging and always courteous. He was a lesson to me on how we should interact with one another, as politicians in this country. Sometimes the level of discourse does descend, but it is something that never happened with Feargal Quinn.I learned a lot from speaking to him, but also from observing him in the Chamber. As I mentioned to some of his family outside, he had a way of drawing people into what he had to say by using examples concerning his grandchildren and direct family. I always found that very endearing but it was also a clever way to make sure people were listening to what he was saying.

Feargal Quinn was warm, witty and decent. He also had all the other qualities Senator McDowell described. He was a very proud resident of Howth. I am lucky enough to live in Howth and I know how well regarded Feargal was all over the country, but especially in that part of Dublin. Most people are extremely proud to have known and worked with him. As Senator McDowell said, having built the Superquinn brand to what it was, he still maintained his service to the country. That is highly admirable.

As has been said, Feargal served in Seanad Éireann for 23 years. I observed his involvement in many extremely constructive Bills. That went on over the course of those years. His tenacity and passion were always clearly evident. As one can see from television programmes, he always wanted to help others in small business to achieve and to improve their businesses. The reason he was so well regarded around the country was that people could relate to him as having worked so hard and having been so good to people.

As I said, Feargal Quinn's style of communication impressed me. He was a really lovely colleague, and I would not say that about everyone in politics, although everyone in the Chamber today is lovely.