James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy on the death of the former Deputy and Senator, Seán Keegan, who represented my constituency. I sincerely extend my condolences to his wife, Mary; his children, Gearóid, Tom, Nan, Marie and Nuala; his sisters; his brother, Father Tom, who lives in Australia; and the Fianna Fáil Party. Seán was a representative of Longford-Westmeath during a political career that began in 1955. He was elected chairman of Westmeath County Council in 1974-75; to the Seánad following a by-election in 1970; and to this House in 1977 when Fianna Fáil had a landslide victory. It was not as good in terms of seat numbers as our result in the recent general election but, unfortunately, we did not get into government afterwards.

However, I knew Seán well as a colleague on the old Midland Health Board. I recall many incidents at board meetings. Seán was also a lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. One of the proposals he made to the health board when anti-social behaviour increased and law and order began to break down in a number midland towns was that all discos should close at midnight. This did not go down well with many board members. On another occasion a few years ago, I took a stance on the dismantling of health services in the midlands. I was the only member ever expelled from a health board but when Seán left the room afterwards, he said to me that he admired me for the principled stance I had taken. That will go with me to my grave because he was a man of principle. He was a great advocate of law and order and his greatest passion, other than politics, was farming and country life. He operated a successful farming business in Kilbeggan. His family connections extend into County Longford, where his daughter, Nan, lives on the outskirts of Longford town.

Sean was an extremely hard working representative for Longford-Westmeath. Throughout his political life and beyond, he was always willing to help his constituents and neighbours and he had a long and distinguished association with many organisations throughout Westmeath. He was a principled politician and that is how I will chiefly remember him. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him within the community, which is lessened by his passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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