Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would also like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the late Mary Jackman. I served with Mary in this Chamber between 1997 and 2002. I was the Opposition Whip at that time. It was a pleasure to work with Mary Jackman. As we all know, it is difficult at times to get people to speak in Seanad Éireann, or to keep the House going. It was always the job of the Opposition to make sure it had somebody there to keep an eye on things, to see how Bills were going, and to call votes when they were to be called.

Mary Jackman was a pleasure to work with. She was a teacher, but apart from that she had great experience because of her long membership of Limerick County Council. She could speak on any subject. She was ideal. She could come into Seanad Éireann and speak on any subject from education to agriculture or whatever. Mary Jackman would never see you stuck. She would always fill the spot and she was always dependable. I have to say that about her.

As the Cathaoirleach said, she was also a sports person. She was a talented person in education, sports and in political life. Politics is not an easy place for women. At that time in particular, there were very few women in politics. I served for many years on Mayo County Council and only served with one woman on that local authority. I think that was only for one term.

It was difficult for women to get elected. However, Mary Jackman was elected to the local authority. She was elected to Seanad Éireann on two occasions. She had one particular strength which says a lot about her calibre. She was elected on the Labour Panel with Dan Neville. They were both on the Labour Panel, and both of them were from the same county and elected at the same time. It is not easy to get two people elected on the same panel, when the party might only get three or four people at most. There was never animosity between either of them. They got on very well in this Chamber, and I am sure they got on very well in the constituency as well.

As Senator O'Sullivan said, she was not that successful and was narrowly defeated on the second last occasion she ran. However, Mary Jackman broke the mould for women in politics. Mary was a great colleague to us here in Seanad Éireann and in Leinster House. I am sure she was also a great colleague to the members of Limerick County Council with whom she served. We can see the respect in which she was held by looking at the number of Members in the Chamber today, as well as the former Members who came all the way from Limerick to hear these expressions of sympathy. It is a sad day for Limerick and for the Jackman family. I express my sympathy to Nick and the rest of the family. Mary was a great colleague and it is sad she is gone. That is life. She had a great career in politics.