Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I join the Taoiseach in extending the commiserations of the Fine Gael Party to all Seán Keegan's Fianna Fáil colleagues, and particularly to his wife Mary and family members who are here. Many people in the current Dáil will not remember Seán Keegan. When we look back through the Dáil records and see the names of those who served in this House from whatever part of the country or whatever party, sometimes the names do not jump out at us because of the service of years gone by. From this side of the House someone who passes away and who was a staunch member of the Fine Gael Party would be referred to as a true blue, which has connotations from different years. It could always be said of the late Seán Keegan that he was a true Fianna Fáil supporter, absolutely rigid in his belief about Fianna Fáil's core values in what it stood for. He was never afraid to express those views and if one got him primed up at the right time one would get a demonstration of the defence of Fianna Fáil in all circumstances.

I recall Seán Keegan, both as a Senator and as a Deputy. As in all Dáileanna there are particular characters who stand out. I recall, as I am sure his wife, Mary, will recall, the white suit in which he occasionally left Kilbeggan when coming to the Dáil. He attended a meeting of the joint committee on secondary legislation in Brussels, on which I was also a young recruit. The topic under discussion was the 50-mile limit and fishing rights, about which the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, will know. The senior official of the Commission was giving a presentation on a fishing problem which lasted for approximately two and a half hours, in the course of which several instalments of tea and strong coffee were brought in. The director presenting the case for fishing rights was dunking his teabag in his cup for ten minutes. In absolute exasperation the late Seán Keegan said: "Look, as far as I can see the only fishing you've ever done is in that cup in front of you". He said to me when leaving that room: "When we're away from Ireland, we have to stick together". Irrespective of the depth of feeling he had for his party he still recognised what needed to be done for his country.

Those who have given the length of service that Seán Keegan gave from 1955 until 1982 will recognise it is a long period of public service. I recall in 1977, as Deputy O'Rourke will, that it was Deputy Seán Keegan's surplus that elected former Deputy Albert Reynolds to the House in the first instance and all that flowed from that. I commiserate with Mary Keegan and her children, Gearóid, Tom, Nan, Marie and Nuala and with the Fianna Fáil Party on losing a stalwart son. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

See this speech in context