John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the presence of the Ministers of State, Deputies O'Donnell and O'Donovan, Deputy O'Dowd and former Senator and Deputy Michael Finucane. I had the pleasure of knowing Mary from my time at the University of Limerick, where I studied to be a PE teacher. She was always a great friend to the Young Fine Gael branch in the university, being always present and willing to give of her time generously. She always had words of encouragement and advice. A number of us in that Young Fine Gael branch went on to serve in politics, including Councillor Liam Quinn in Offaly and Councillor Colm Murray in Longford. It is great that three of us from that class went on to enter politics. Mary always had a word of advice for everybody on the pathway we should follow. As colleagues have rightly said, she was very kind and generous with her time.

She was also a teacher. Being from the same background myself, I know it is a vocation in which one must give everything of oneself to the job and the students. It takes a particular type of person to nurture students and bring them along. Mary was that type of person. My dad was a good friend of Mary, even though they did not serve in the Seanad together, he having not been elected until 2002. I express my sympathy to all Mary's family members. I acknowledge the great work she did for her community. As Senator McGahon rightly said, to be elected on multiple occasions to Limerick County Council and subsequently to this House is something that should be celebrated. That is why there are so many of us here today to pay tribute to the great, late Mary Jackman.