Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join the Taoiseach and other Dáil colleagues in expressing our sympathy to the wife and family of the late John Wilson. I also extend sympathy on behalf of the Sinn Féin Party in the House to the Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil Party on the loss of their long-serving colleague.

John Wilson's record of service has been reflected by a number of speakers and I will not repeat the various posts he held. Unquestionably he performed with distinction in each of them, through the various portfolio responsibilities he held here, in his role as Tánaiste and subsequently with the Victims Commission and the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains. I had occasion to engage with him in his role as victims' commissioner in bringing people who had been displaced during the years of the conflict in the northern part of our country and I found John Wilson, on each of those occasions, very facilitatious, open and courteous at all times, which showed throughout his political life. I contested five general elections with John, three of them as candidate, and on every occasion he demonstrated himself as a man of great courteousness, never acrimonious and fair. That is the way I wish to pay my due respect to him.

He was an impressive figure in every regard. He had a great intellect and was a striking figure in every respect. He was a champion of his native county of Cavan in every endeavour he undertook. He served not only Cavan but the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan from 1977 up to his retirement in 1993. He is remembered fondly throughout County Cavan and he will deservedly rank in the thoughts and the generational memory of the people of County Cavan for many decades into the future. On behalf of my colleague representatives in Sinn Féin, I extend our sympathy once again to Mrs. Wilson, to his son and daughters, his nephew, Senator Diarmuid Wilson, who is present in the Chamber this afternoon, and to all his colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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