Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Green Party grouping, I convey our deepest sympathy to the late Mary Jackman's husband, Nick, her daughter, Nicola, sister, Ursula, and her extended family. As has been said, former Senator, Mary Jackman, was first elected as a member of Limerick County Council, representing the Castleconnell electoral area in 1985. It was an exciting time in Irish politics. She went on to be a poll topper in many elections until her retirement in 2014. She has the unique distinction of becoming the first female cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council in 1999. If we could turn the clock back to 1999, we would see that she was a mould breaker and trailblazer in her electoral performance. My Government colleagues from the Fine Gael party can be proud of her. The Deputy Leader mentioned the names of many of the Senators who frequented the House at the same time. It is not an exhaustive list, but it includes people such as Monica Barnes who originally comes from close to Carrickmacross and was a proud past pupil of "the Louis" in the town; Madeleine Taylor-Quinn - thankfully some are still with us and in the prime of their health - Nuala Fennell and Mary Jackman. They all happen to come from one political grouping and that party can feel proud that they were members at a particular time in Irish politics when the voice of women was totally underrepresented. I like to think politics is a bit more accommodating today, but we still have a lot of work to do to make this a friendly workplace for women. They were ahead of their time. I acknowledge the presence in Seanad Éireann of Ministers of State, Deputies O'Donovan and O'Donnell, Deputy O'Dowd and former Deputy and Senator, Michael Finucane. Many of them, apart from Deputy O'Dowd who is from my neighbouring county, County Louth, have one thing in common, among many others, namely a central theme of Limerick.There should have been a book written on it, if not a film made, if you look at the gigantic people who hailed from Limerick at that time. There were people like Jim Kemmy, Michael Noonan, Des O'Malley, Mary Jackman and Jan O'Sullivan, who served our country very well up to the current generation. It was a hotbed, and no doubt a competitive place to ply your trade as a public representative. The Ministers present are on record paying tribute to Mary's career as a public representative. I was particularly taken by the words of former Taoiseach, John Bruton, who said Mary was an exceptional politician, idealistic and practical. The next bit from the former Taoiseach was most interesting. He said she was never cynical, but always positive. We are living in a time in Irish politics where there is a danger people will either be chased out of it, or not incentivised to come into it. If there were more people around like the late Mary Jackman, never cynical, always positive, I believe we would attract more people into a better and more effective operation and working of the democratic system, which is our heartbeat and how we operate as an organised society.

On behalf of the Green Party I convey my deepest sympathies. My colleague from Limerick in the Lower House, Deputy Brian Leddin, speaks glowingly of former Senator Mary Jackman. Deputy Leddin and I, along with our party, want to closely associate ourselves with the preceding remarks in this Chamber from Senators Boyhan, Doherty and others.

Limerick has lost a legendary figure, but County Tipperary will also lay claim to Mary Jackman, née Furlong. Bríd McGrath, a senior researcher in the Green Party, reminded me that she was first and foremost a Tipperary woman. Between them, were the two counties not blessed and lucky to share in the life and times of the late Senator Mary Jackman?