INDEPENDENT TD Shane Ross praised Dr FitzGerald’s contribution to the creation of a pluralist Ireland.
“Dr FitzGerald, above anybody else, initiated the movement for tolerance, an end to sectarianism, non-violence, equality and respect for minorities, North and South, in this country,” he said.
“He started that procedure in 1981 and he lit a fire which, with various setbacks, has climaxed this week.” In that sense, Mr Ross said, “we should be very proud of him as a taoiseach who is responsible for what happened in recent days”.
Mr Ross, who was speaking on behalf of the Dáil’s technical group, said constitutional changes, some controversial, had followed, but the common ingredient was that they challenged the dominance of great institutions in this country which needed to be challenged. “He tackled those taboos which for so long had been the curse of Ireland and he is responsible for that,” he added.
