First of all I should like to thank you for the honour you have done me by electing me your Acting Chairman for today, though we all regret the absence of the Cathaoirleach owing to illness. I am sure you will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery to full health.
Unhappily, my first duty is a melancholy one. During the Recess, Senators will have learned with deep regret of the death of one of our longest serving Members, Senator Máighréad Nic Phiarais. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí dá hánam uasal.
The late Senator was the last of a famous family whose members gave their all in the cause of Irish freedom and whose name will be forever cherished by the Irish people. She first came into prominence as a public representative when she was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1933 as a Member for County Dublin. On the re-establishment of Seanad Éireann in 1938, she was elected from the Administrative Panel and from that date until the time of her death she was continuously a Member of this House. For many years she served on the Joint Restaurant Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Irish Parliamentary Association of which she was joint honorary treasurer. Owing to failing health she was unable to attend meetings of the Seanad for some time past. Nevertheless she kept up her insatiable interest in public affairs which she was willing to discuss on all occasions.
Senator Nic Phiarais was a woman of outstanding personality and firm convictions which, when occasion demanded, she had no hesitation in expressing in a forceful and compelling way. Her great love was the Irish language and she never lost an opportunity to encourage people, particularly young people, to study and to speak it. Of a quiet disposition, she never sought publicity and the immense amount of work of a charitable nature which she carried out was known only to a few. Her memory will be treasured by all those who had the privilege of knowing her and her passing will be mourned by all those who benefited from her kindness.
I should like on my own behalf and on behalf of the Members of this House to express our deepest sympathy with the relatives of the late Senator.
Senators rose in their places.