Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to join in the tributes to the late John Wilson, who was a personal friend and colleague of mine for many years. I had the privilege and honour of working with John Wilson in each Department in which he served as Minister and, latterly, in his role as Tánaiste. That experience was hugely influential and beneficial in shaping my outlook on public service. John was elected initially as Deputy for Cavan and subsequently for the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. His popularity at local level was evident with the huge endorsement he won from his electorate at successive elections. John served the people of Cavan-Monaghan extremely well and played a leading role in securing investment in many projects, investments that have brought many benefits to the people of the constituency. He served with distinction in seven Departments and had a great working relationship with all his constituency colleagues.

Before his election to Dáil Éireann John had a noted career as a teacher at second and third level and as a trade union leader. For many people throughout this country who love our Gaelic games, John Wilson was first widely known as a star of a golden age for football in County Cavan. He won a glittering array of medals at all levels, including two senior all-Ireland football titles, one national league, five Ulster championships and numerous county championship medals with his beloved Mullahoran, as well as Leinster colleges medals. His passionate support for all sports, particularly Gaelic games, continued throughout his life. He was not, to say the least, best pleased with the fortunes of our county teams in recent years. A noted linguist, he lost no opportunity to promote our language and, although steeped in his native language, games and culture, he was able to look beyond Ireland and absorb the traditions, literature and history of Europe.

At an advanced age, he accepted the request of Government to take on the onerous task of victims commissioner and member of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, and that appointment allowed him to bring all his political and life experience and compassion to deal with extremely sensitive and difficult issues. His report, A Place and a Name, brought home to all of us the need to deal comprehensively and with compassion with the concerns and needs of victims of the Troubles. The title of the report says much on its own — if a title ever conveyed a message that was it. The report was John Wilson's final contribution to public life and was an extremely important contribution for many people on both sides of the Border, particularly throughout the province of Ulster.

To John's wife, Ita, who was so supportive of his work over the years, and their daughter Maria, who are both with us today, I again extend my sincere sympathy. I also extend my sympathy to other family members, Siobhán, Claire, Lucy and John, to John's sisters, May and Agnes, and his brothers, Aidan and Eugene, and to our Oireachtas colleague, his nephew, Senator Diarmuid Wilson. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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