‘Emmet was one of hardest working TDS I can remember’
President leads tributes to close friend after death at 79
TASK
PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins led tributes for former Labour TD Emmet Stagg who passed away yesterday at the age of 79.
He described the Kildare deputy as one of his “closest friends”.
Stagg was first elected to the Dail after the 1987 General Election for Kildare after stints on the local county council.
President Higgins said: “Emmet Stagg will be remembered by all those with whom he served in Leinster House for his generosity and kindness towards all of his colleagues, and indeed for his respect for people in all parties.
“Emmet embodied the spirit of the Labour Party in its best sense.
“This was delivered in his weekly and
EMERGENCY workers in the Russian border city of Belgorod tackle a blaze sparked by a Ukrainian drone.
A wave of drone attacks targeted the country, with the Russian Defence Ministry claiming that 35 had been downed overnight, including four in the Moscow region.
Hours later, thousands took part in protests against Vladimir Putin as votes were counted in the country’s sham Presidential election. At least daily service to his constituents, where he was one of the most hardworking TDS that I can remember in my time in Dail Eireann. Indeed, no one could keep up with the pace at which Emmet worked for his constituents during his 29 years of unbroken service as a TD from 1987 to 2016.”
Stagg was also the Labour Party candidate for Kildare North in the 2020 General Election at the age of 75 – but wasn’t elected.
President Higgins added: “It was a particular privilege for me to share an office with Emmet for a number of the 74 people were arrested. Supporters of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny gathered at polling stations – in Russia and beyond – at midday for a Noon Against Putin protest. His widow Yulia took part in a demo outside the Russian embassy in Berlin.
Last night, early results from 24.4% of polling stations showed Putin, 71, had secured 88% of the first votes counted. When elected he will serve for another six years.
PROTEST years in which I served in the Dail. One of the things which Emmet often shared with us was his love of gardening.
“It was always one of the great surprises when Emmet would bring in to those sharing his office the produce of his garden in Straffan, or to hear of his fishing expeditions in his beloved Mayo.
“I will remember Emmet as one of my closest friends in
Leinster
House, he will be deeply missed. May I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, his children Gillian and Henry, and to all his family, colleagues and many friends.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik described him as a “great mentor” and said he was “a pillar of Labour politics, in Leinster House, and in
Kildare”.