Taoiseach Pays Tribute to Sile De Valera
Today marks the end of a distinguished ministerial career for Sile De Valera as well as a new beginning in life. I want to thank her today for her contribution to Irish politics and to Fianna Fáil. We entered the Dáil together in 1977 and over thirty years Sile De Valera has contributed with distinction and integrity to the political process. A person of forthright views and immense personal consideration for all whom she worked with politically and led as a Minister, she has left a legacy that has enhanced politics and reflected credit on a distinguished family tradition.
As a deputy for Dublin Mid-County, a member of the European Parliament and a deputy for Clare since 1987 she has worked hard for the people she represented. I know that that commitment will continue up to and beyond the end of her mandate in the 29th Dáil.
I had the great pleasure of appointing Sile as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in 1997 and as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science in 2002. As a Cabinet Minister she oversaw a massively increased investment in the arts and the building of a series of regional arts centres which will serve not only the arts but an ever wider audience for all of our art forms. She also published an Arts Bill that was very substantially the basis for the Arts Act passed in 2002. At the Department of Education and Science she led the safety review of the school bus fleet and played an important role in ensuring that youth groups were listened to and involved in decision making.
Now, a new life is unfolding for Sile. I look forward to working with her and all our party colleagues in Clare over the coming months. I know too that she is looking forward to taking up the new challenges that she has set for herself. I wish Sile the very best for the future.
ENDS