Paying Tribute to Ruairi Quinn

Ruairi Quinn & Alex White - Schools

I want to pay tribute to Ruairí for his work as Minister for Education and Skills in this Government. He has been a champion of reform and has fought successfully for investment in education in difficult times.

Ruairí has had a long and illustrious Ministerial career. History will look favourably on him during his time not only as Minister for Education and Skills, but also during his periods as Minister in the Departments of Finance, Enterprise and Employment, Public Service and Labour.

Whether putting our nation’s finances on a steady footing in the 1990s, leading the fight against organised crime with the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau, leading a school buildings programme during our country’s worst financial crisis or building a more tolerant society through progressive legislation, Ruairí has always served for the common good rather than for short-term political gain.

As a former Leader of the Labour Party and a public representative for forty years, Ruairí’s contribution to Irish life has been exceptional. I wish him well for the future.