Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Minister of State for sport, I will join in that, a Chathaoirligh, if that is okay. Charlie has made a huge contribution over many decades. He refereed matches that my father played in the League of Ireland in the sixties and continued refereeing at the highest level. He was involved in leagues and, most famously, as a kit man during the football era that probably all of us grew up in, including Italia 90, and he became very famous. To this day, he continues to have an active role in football and the FAI and attends football functions. I met him on a number of occasions, and it is wonderful to see a man at 100 so healthy, fit and interested in everything that goes on in football. He deserves the praise of the nation and the words of the Cathaoirleach today.