Senators will have heard this morning with the deepest regret the death of our colleague Senator Bob Aylward. Senator Aylward although a Member of the Seanad for a relatively short time had a life-long involvement in public life and was noted for his tireless devotion to the service of the people he represented in the county of Kilkenny. He was for 25 years a member of the county council and was foremost among those involved in the work of many committees, notably the committee of agriculture, the health committee and the hospitals committee. Senator Aylward, in his earlier days, was an outstanding G.A.A. player and subsequently continued his activities in this field as an administrator. He held the offices of vice-president of the Association and as chairman of the Leinster council.
As an outstanding farmer it was fitting he should have been elected a Senator last May on the Agricultural Panel. He was, as we all know, a very kind and courteous man and his deep convictions and concern for the public welfare were manifest in his contributions to the debates in this House during the past year. On your behalf and on my own I shall convey to his widow and family our sympathy and appreciation. Solas Dé ar a anam.
Members rose in their places.