Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of my Independent colleagues, Senators McDowell, Norris, Craughwell, Mullen, Keogan and Clonan, I welcome the Taoiseach and thank him for his very kind words. I would also like to thank Mr. John Bowman for touching on the importance of Independent Senators, which is what I will focus on.

In preparation for today I took the time to look at an article in the The New York Timeson the very first meeting of Seanad Éireann. It pointed out that of the 60 Members of Seanad Éireann, there were 36 Catholics, 20 Protestants, three Quakers and one Jew. It went on to say that the first Seanad was representative of all classes, although it was also described as the "most curious" political grouping in the history of the Irish State. I would like to think that this diversity remains within Seanad Éireann.

Not going back too far, I want to take the time to remember people like former Senator Gordon Wilson and the role he played, with his super-human display of clarity, charity and forgiveness in relation to the Enniskillen bombing. I think of former Senator Feargal Quinn, the entrepreneur who championed enterprise and former Senator Catherine McGuinness, who championed social justice and law reform. I also think of our wonderful father of the House, Senator Norris and his famous European Court of Human Rights case. The European Court ruled that the law in Ireland criminalising same-sex activities was contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and in particular, Article 8, which protects the rights and respects the private lives of the citizens of this country. I also think of his then senior counsel, former Senator Mary Robinson, who went on to serve in this House. I think of my great friend the former Senator Maurice Hayes who was Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and chairman of the National Forum on Europe. He was a wonderful advocate for a pluralist State. He did so much work and was a very proud Northerner. I also think of former Senator Ian Marshall who was president of the Ulster Farmer's Union and enjoyed an academic career at Queen's University and of former Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell and her great advocacy in the Seanad for education, Irish culture, literature and drama. I think of former Senator Colette Kelleher who worked for social justice and Traveller's rights and former Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh who championed the Irish language, enterprise and innovation. Finally, I think of former Senator Billy Lawless who was a strong voice for Irish emigrants. He facilitated North-South and east-west co-operation and tapped in to our diaspora and its enormous potential.

I will finish by drawing attention to the crucial importance of the Independent politicians with independent minds who have played such a significant and important role in Seanad Éireann, a point echoed by the Taoiseach and Mr. Bowman today. I hope we will have the vision and courage to continue to bring independent and minority voices into Seanad Éireann. We do not want minority voices outside these Chambers; we want them in theses Houses, being respected and playing a meaningful role.