The President and Taoiseach have led tributes to Senator David Norris as he formally announced his retirement from political life after 36 years.
Mr Norris, a colourful activist for decades, campaigned to abolish the State’s anti-homosexuality laws in the 1980s and pushed for progress on LGBT rights.
He was first elected to the Seanad in 1987 and has been re-elected in each election since then, making him the State’s longest-serving senator.
The independent senator for the University of Dublin also holds the longest continuous period of service in the upper house of the Oireachtas.
His fellow senators described him as “the lily amongst the briars”, one of the country’s finest debaters and “a champion for the under-privileged”.
In his final address in the Seanad chamber, Mr Norris said he wished to use the time to call for peace for Palestinians.
Mr Norris, who speaks Hebrew, said: “What is happening to the inhabitants of Gaza is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.
“Man’s inhumanity to man is our greatest shame and I have to say also that it goes completely against the Jewish ethic which is L’Chaim – to life.
“This present government under (Benjamin) Netanyahu has committed them instead of to life, to death. To death in overwhelming numbers for the unfortunate trapped citizens of Gaza. I deplore it completely.”
He also said that he will be campaigning for a Yes vote in the upcoming referenda on amending the Irish Constitution.
He thanked his parliamentary assistant Miriam Gordon Smith, his election agent Brian Murray, the graduates who voted for him over the years, and his fellow colleagues in the Seanad.
Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer said that President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had conveyed their appreciation to Mr Norris.
Mr Higgins said he had an “illustrious career” and “a courage beyond the ordinary”, describing him as “a champion of equality, diversity that will continue to inspire future generations”.
Mr Varadkar praised his campaigning on behalf of LGBT issues, women and minority groups, and said he showed “true leadership” standing up for causes that were “unpopular, poorly understood, but appealing to our best instincts as human beings”.
Mr Buttimer, who is gay, said he owed him a “huge” debt of gratitude.
“Your passion hasn’t diminished as we can see from that final contribution,” Mr Buttimer added.
“As a member of the house, you have sponsored 34 Bills, and one as recently as February last year on domestic violence, which speaks to your lifetime commitment on social issues.
“Your Bills covered a wide, diverse range of topics, yet your primary focus was on issues on human rights and equalities – from the abolition of the death penalty, housing and homelessness, disability rights, mental health, the protection of the native Irish honey bee and (a ban on) conversion therapies.”
