John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I met former Senator Jackman during the term of the previous Seanad when my then boss, the late former Senator Paul Coghlan, introduced me to her. She and her husband, whom I also met, were guests of the now Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, who was a Senator at the time. It is nice to see Nick and others of Mary's family back here again.

The career of former Senator Jackman, which included winning five local elections between 1985 and 2014, is something to which everyone in this House would aspire. Her family should be incredibly proud of the service she gave, not just to Limerick at a local level, but also nationally, serving for eight years in Seanad Éireann. As mentioned, she was 300 or 400 votes ahead of Jim Kemmy on the first count in the 1997 general election. That may not seem like much but it was approximately 1.2% in percentage terms because Limerick was a smaller constituency then. Mary was ahead consistently on every count only to be pipped in the final round by some 400 votes. It was really tight. In the subsequent by-election a few months later, she got 10,500 first preference votes and was only 170 votes behind the poll topper, Jan O'Sullivan. However, she was passed out again on transfers, which was extremely unlucky. That type of thing would usually only happen to people once in their career. For it to happen to Mary twice in the space of a few months was incredibly unlucky. It was a great shame she never had the opportunity to show her ability in Dáil Éireann.

As other Senators noted, Mary was one of those trailblazing female Fine Gael Oireachtas Members in the 1980s and 1990s. They set the tone for other Members to come in and build on their success. I refer to people like Senator Ahearn's mother, Theresa, Nuala Fennell, Mary Flaherty, Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, Gemma Hussey and Monica Barnes. When we look at the pantheon of former Fine Gael Deputies and Senators, those women are right up there. Mary Jackman has a place among some of the best female Oireachtas Members who ever had the privilege to serve as members of Fine Gael in this and the other House. That is something of which we as a political party should be, and are, very proud indeed.

I acknowledge the former colleagues in this House who are in the Chamber today, particularly my colleague from Louth, Deputy O'Dowd, who was first elected to the Seanad in 1997 alongside the late Mary Jackman, who was coming in for her second term. The Ministers of State, Deputies O'Donovan and O'Donnell, are also here, which is a testament to the impact Mary had. It is good to have my friend, former Deputy and Senator Michael Finucane here as well. The fact so many former and current politicians have made the effort to be here alongside Mary's family is a testament to how highly regarded she was by so many people. A 29-year political career, from 1985 to 2014, including two terms served in the Upper House of the national Parliament and serving the people of Limerick with such distinction, is a record of which not only her family will be proud, but of which my party and we in this House are also proud.