Senator John McGahon - speech from 13 Jun 2023

I'm speaking today about our great friend, the late Senator Paul Coughlin. I had the honour and the privilege of working for Senator Coughlin between 2016 and 2020. And I say this genuinely, I will have memories, I will have stories, I will have advice, I will have so many things that I will use in my, not just my political career, but my life for decades to come that I was able to learn from Paul Coughlin. I think very few politicians enter Leinster House and leave Leinster House with the huge amounts of friends that he had and goodwill across all political parties, across everyone in this house. And I think that's a testament to the jovial, but more importantly, the kind-natured and kind-hearted personality that Paul had. He really, truly was one of a kind. And what I would say, one of his famous election victories, everyone talks about the famous victory in 2016, where he was described as Lazarus, where throughout every Senate count he survived by one vote, survived by half a vote, came out of nowhere to keep his seat. But perhaps his most famous win was the 2002 Senate election, when Fine Gael had a meltdown election, and the order went out from headquarters where to make sure that no incumbent senators kept their seats. We need to elect people who can win dole seats in 2007, and Paul Coughlin and Paddy Burke were the two senators that survived, and the General Secretary of Fine Gael constantly referred to Paul Coughlin as the one that got away in the 2002 Senate election, because he was so well regarded by all councillors and members all around this country. So today we're thinking of Peggy and his family. He truly was one of a kind, and he will be remembered in this place for many, many years to come. Thank you.