Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I call on the first speaker it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery the family of our colleague and friend, Senator Shane Cassells. I welcome his wife, Fiona, his daughter, CJ, and his sons, Noah and Bobby. I welcome them most sincerely to Leinster House. I thank them for the sacrifice that they have made in giving us their dad, who has been a wonderful public servant to the people of Meath. Sadly for his family, he has become a great friend of mine. He will be a big loss to us here in Leinster House. We wish you all, especially Senator Cassells himself, a tremendous next chapter. I do hope that the Senator will live to see Meath win some type of an all-Ireland football final but hope that it will not be at the expense of Cork like Meath has done too often.

I wish Fiona, CJ, Noah and Bobby a céad míle fáilte. I thank them most sincerely for their sacrifice in giving us Senator Cassells who has served the people of Meath with distinction. Beir bua.