merrion street

I want to express my deep personal regret on the death of Kader Asmal, co-founder with his wife Louise Asmal of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Having left South Africa to study law in the UK, Kader settled in Ireland working as a law professor and lecturer in Trinity College. Not only did Kader build the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement in to a major national force but he was highly influential in the development of civil liberties and civil society in Ireland from the 1960s onward.

When the end of apartheid finally came he never hesitated for a moment but returned home to take a key role in building the new South Africa. He played a critical part in the development of the new South African constitution. He became an MP and served with distinction in Government as Minister for Education and later Minister for Water, bringing water resources to thousands of poor communities right across South Africa.

As Irish Minister for Overseas Development I was privileged, with Kader as my guide, to visit a number of the water projects in rural South Africa which Irish aid helped to fund.

Kader was always immensely grateful for his Irish experiences which he acknowledged influenced his approach to building the new South Africa. Although retired from Parliament, I know that currently he was working on the development of Freedom of Information legislation in South Africa and remained a frequent contributor to public debate on reform and the prevention of corruption. Kader was a mentor and friend to a whole generation of Irish people, including myself. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.