I express my sympathy and condolences to the Carey family on the passing of former Minister, Deputy and Senator, Donal Carey. Donal served the people of Clare with distinction. He was a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas for a long time and a Minister in rural development. I would say he was the first Minister for rural development. That was back in the rainbow coalition Government between December 1994 and 1997, when a lot of significant work was done to prepare rural Ireland for what we experience today.

Donal was a great man and an assiduous constituency worker. A lot of people in Clare benefited from his service over the years. It is a very sad day for County Clare. I offer my condolences to our former colleague Joe Carey, his sister Leonora and his brother Donal Óg on the passing of their father. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

We join with the Senator in expressing our sympathies to the family and friends of the former Minister of State and Deputy.