Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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As Members will know, we are speaking today in memory of the late Mary O'Rourke, who passed away last week. Mary O'Rourke served as a Member of this House and of Dáil Éireann, and she was a former friend and colleague to many in the Houses of the Oireachtas. She had a long and distinguished career in politics and held several ministries throughout her career, including education, health, transport and public enterprise.Born in 1937 in Athlone, one of five children, she came from a family steeped in politics. Her late father Patrick Lenihan served as a TD, as did her brother Brian, and of course she and Brian today remain the only brother and sister who have served together in cabinet. She was also a proud aunt of the late Brian Jnr and Conor Lenihan having served alongside them in Dáil Éireann. She was the first woman elected to Athlone urban district council in 1974 at a time very few woman were involved in politics, and she left her mark on the council. First elected to this House in 1981 on the cultural and educational panel, in 1992 she was elected to Dáil Éireann. She served four Seanad terms overall and was Leader of Seanad Éireann from 2002 to 2007. Mary O'Rourke's final Oireachtas term was as a Member of Dáil Éireann from 2007 to 2011 for the Longford-Westmeath constituency. She was, of course, a very proud member of Fianna Fáil and served as the deputy leader of the party for many years. She was also very proud of her Longford-Westmeath constituency.

In her political career, Mary O'Rourke was a strong advocate for Seanad reform and chaired the O'Rourke committee in 2004, which set out extensive proposals for reform. She believed and passionately fought for the view that Seanad Éireann should be a place of scrutiny and review and that this House had a very valuable and democratic role as a revising Chamber. As Members will well know, she was always down to earth, practical and emphasised in her report that the Seanad must "inevitably be a political body since it must discharge political functions".

Before she entered politics, she was a teacher and outside her life in politics, she made numerous public appearances and was hugely popular as a commentator and a regular guest on many TV and radio shows. She had a deep love of reading and writing and went on to write her best-selling memoir. She was a good colleague and friend and as many Members will know, she had a good tongue. If you got in her way, she would not be long telling you about that as well. We had many a good battle. As a non-elected Member, I recall fondly meeting and dealing with her on many issues as a Minister but also in this House with her as a Member of the Dáil.

At this sad time, my thoughts are with her family. On my own behalf and that of Seanad Éireann, I convey my deepest sympathies to her sons Feargal and Aengus; her daughters in law, Maeve and Lisa; her cherished grandchildren Jennifer, Luke, Sarah, Sam, James and Scott; her sister in law Etna O'Rourke; her extended family and the members of the Fianna Fáil Party and her many colleagues and friends. She is now at peace with her late husband Enda. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

I now ask the Leader to outline the Order of Business and we will have a moment of silence at the end.