Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the kind remarks that Members have expressed for our old colleague, Senator David Norris. I have had the privilege of serving in this House with him for 14 years and I have been most impressed by him at all times. It is nice to see him being recognised in his own lifetime.

I came into the Chamber especially to join in the condolences to the great Austin Currie. When I was growing up I considered Austin Currie a hero. He was a man of great courage who was prepared to take on the system in a democratic and non-violent way. He and his SDLP colleagues are the people who affected profound change in the North. We are at a time when, unfortunately, there are people in these Houses who will still try to justify the murder campaign of the Provisional IRA. Indeed, the leader of one of the largest parties in these Houses continues to justify the murder campaign of the IRA.It is important to reflect on the fact that people like Austin Currie showed that you can effect change without shooting people, putting bombs on buses or murdering innocent women and children. He needs to be recognised for that. I send my heartfelt condolences to his daughter, Emer, and the rest of his family, and to his parliamentary colleagues in the SDLP and Fine Gael.