Before proceeding, I understand the Tánaiste wants to make a brief statement to the House.

I hope the House will indulge me in expressing sadness and respect on hearing this morning of the passing of an exceptional Irishman, Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. On behalf of the Government, I express condolences to Mícheál's family and friends and to the cultural community more widely who are mourning his loss. Mícheál's talents as a composer and musician were rightly admired and have been hugely appreciated. He energised and engaged audiences, both at home and abroad, with magical piano performances combining Irish traditional music and classical music. At the helm of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, he made a significant contribution to our cultural knowledge and to mentoring many new generations of young Irish musicians. His broadcast work enhanced the fundamental understanding of our musical heritage.

Mícheál played an enormously important role as the first chairperson of Culture Ireland from its establishment in 2005 until 2014, shaping how Ireland would best promote the arts and culture, not only at home but also globally.

I certainly hope that, through our Global Ireland initiative, we can do justice to the work he started by continuing to ensure that people across the world understand the extent of our musical heritage. I want to thank and recognise him for his extraordinary contribution to Irish life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

I join the Tánaiste in sympathising with the O'Sullivan family, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin's extended family and all his friends and relations. I grew up with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin in Clonmel in the 1950s and 1960s. I was classmate of his and we were very good friends. He was a giant in the whole area of music, in particular traditional music and classical music, and he blended all those genres together. He is now and has been world renowned in this area. His legacy will be that blending and fusion of the various musical strands but also the founding of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at Limerick University. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I offer my sympathies to the family of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. He was a proud Clonmel and Tipperary man. He achieved so much in his life, including the amount of tuition he gave to students at the University of Limerick and also on a private basis. When he met people, he inspired them with his talents. He is up there with Seán Ó Riada and many others in his achievements and what he has done for Irish culture, music, song and dance - indeed, my own niece, who is a dancing teacher, studied with him. He will be a huge loss to the cultural life of Limerick and Tipperary. Thank God he has left a lasting legacy at the University of Limerick. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

On behalf of my party, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family, colleagues and friends of the late Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. There is no doubt his life, his talents and, in particular, his sharing of those talents with many generations enriched the spirit and the stock of our nation. As a consequence, we are diminished as a nation by his passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Tá laoch imithe uainn agus go ndéana Dia síoraí ar a anam uasal.

Ba mhaith liom fosta cur leis an méid a bhí ráite fá bhás Mhícheál Ó Súilleabháin agus comhbhrón a chur in iúl ó mé féin agus ó pháirtí Shinn Féin dá theaghlach, don chlann ar fad agus dá chairde ar fad. Níl dabht ar bith ann gur laoch mór ó thaobh an chultúir de a bhí ann agus cé nach bhfuil Mícheál linn níos mó tá a chuid saothair agus oibre linn agus beidh go deo. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

On behalf of the Labour Party, I express our sympathy at the untimely passing of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, who has made an indelible mark not only on the musical heritage of this nation but on the cultural and social life of this nation. Few people leave such an impression and a legacy as Mícheál has in the academic sphere. In bringing music and our culture to the heart of the definition of our Irishness, he will long be remembered. On behalf of the Labour Party, I send my own and all our condolences to his family, his friends and all those who have loved his contribution to music in Ireland.

I call Deputy Paul Murphy on promised legislation.