Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I join the Taoiseach and Deputy Kenny in expressing my sympathy and the sympathy of the Labour Party with the family of the late John Wilson. There are few people of whom it can be said more truly than of John Wilson that he led a full life. He was an outstanding sportsman, a great teacher, a scholar and an outstanding public servant. His commitment to public service and to the country continued well beyond his time in this House.

I knew John Wilson for some time before I became involved in party politics. I met him first in 1976 when I was president of the Union of Students in Ireland and he was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education. He was always courteous and good humoured. I found him a great listener and, better than that, I found him to be very effective because many of the things I said to him appeared in the Fianna Fáil election manifesto in 1977. After the 1977 election I decided to put his effectiveness to the test. I wrote to him immediately after his election congratulating him on his appointment and we were one of the first groups he met. Over a period he delivered increases in student grants and degrees for graduates of regional technical colleges. A shortage of primary school teachers was solved by introducing one year courses in colleges of education for university graduates. Teachers who qualified under this system are still known as Wilson grads. An anomaly in the student grant scheme clearly caused him some political difficulty. We explained the problem and I could see that he reflected on it. He spoke in Latin and Greek and made a number of classical allusions, none of which I can remember. He told me he would not be put into the desert to suffer for the sins of his predecessor, and he went on to resolve the problem.

I had great personal affection for him. He is a loss to his family and to public life. He will be remembered fondly for his achievements in politics and sport and for his good humour and nature. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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