Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)

On behalf of the Sinn Féin group, I extend my sympathies to the wife and family of the former Senator Billy Lawless. I welcome those who have joined us in the Chamber. I am very pleased to see my old friend Ian Marshall back with us again, a very welcome visitor here and long may he continue to engage with us. I also acknowledge Billy's wider family in Galway and Chicago.

I did not know Billy Lawless personally. I have only been in this Chamber since the start of this year. I am indebted to Senator McDowell for illustrating the many aspects of his life, some that I was familiar with through my own inquiries but also many that people were not perhaps as familiar with. Any of my Sinn Féin colleagues I spoke to have related many instances where he had quietly and discreetly assisted people from all over the island who are members of our diaspora in America. His contribution there has been rightly recognised.

Although he secured US citizenship for himself, he did recognise a thing which is familiar to all of us, particularly those of us who have had the good fortune to travel not just to America but to other countries across the world, that precarious existence of people who are undocumented, that fear of the inability to properly live their lives, and to return home to reconnect with their families at times of great challenge at home. We have met many people who have told us such stories. I share Senator Boyhan's view that the great tribute we can pay to his memory is to continue that work on the undocumented and focus on the real challenge that people in America and other countries face. We should try to offer the type of support he did both in a public sense but in many instances in a very private understated sense as well.

His contribution to his native city of Galway and his adopted home of Chicago are immense and have been well outlined by those who have spoken before me and rightly acknowledged by many, including the outgoing Uachtarán na hÉireann. Those personal linkages and the connections that were made between people are the cornerstone of how we relate to our diaspora.I was very fortunate in the past couple of weeks to have been able to travel around Australia and meet many people, and I noted the experience is remarkably similar. There is always a go-to person in each area, and clearly Billy Lawless was a go-to person. Everyone who has gone abroad is indebted to people like him who offer support and advice and create an instant connection that makes them feel at home. Clearly, Billy provided that, not only in Chicago but also through his role representing the diaspora on behalf of all of us in this Chamber.

Billy has been clearly described by colleagues as a tireless advocate for the diaspora. His loss will be felt by many across the US who benefited from his support, particularly those in Chicago. The loss of Senator Billy Lawless will be felt most keenly by those who loved him and were closest to him. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend my deepest sympathies to them all. I regret that I did not get to know Billy in person and learn of his admirable qualities that have been expressed here today. On behalf of our group, I offer our sincere sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.