Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the House for providing an occasion for expressions of sympathy to one of the House's distinguished and liked Members for many years, Mr. Gene Fitzgerald. I convey my sincere condolences, and those of my Fianna Fáil colleagues, to his widow, Noreen, his children, Áine, Aileen, Aindrias, Niamh and Eimear, his sister, Mamie, his brother, Dan, and his grandchildren on their loss at Christmas time.

Gene was one of politics' most decent individuals. I sadly miss him because he was, until his death, the honorary secretary of the Fianna Fáil Party and I had contact with him, if not on a daily basis a weekly one, over the past several years.

Gene graced this House for many years. He had a great appreciation for the dignity and traditions of our national Parliament. I am delighted his family are present as it is a privilege for me to lead the tributes in the Dáil for a man who touched so many hearts and delivered so much.

Gene was born in 1932, the same year Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States. Roosevelt was a consummate politician; so too was Gene in his time and special way. Roosevelt devoted his life to the betterment of his country; so too did Gene. When Roosevelt wrote his famous maxim, "That there is no greater calling than public service", he could well have opined a final description of the life and work of Gene Fitzgerald, what he did for Cork, nationally and in Europe. He had a great love for our national games and gave great support to Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in both Cork and the country.

Gene epitomised the traditional Cork values of decency, pride of place and solidarity with one's neighbours. These were qualities Gene learned as a young man and which stood him well in a life dominated by his active early career in business and human resources and his later service to his community and country.

He was first elected to the Dáil in a by-election in August 1972, representing the old constituency of Mid-Cork. He entered politics at the behest of Jack Lynch who admired him greatly and knew him from his community and GAA activities. Gene was a natural on the campaign trail. His by-election victory was a landslide.

At Gene's removal at Christmas time, I read a newspaper report of the by-election count which described how Gene thanked all of the Opposition parties for a cleanly fought and fair campaign. It described how he embraced the Labour Party candidate, Eileen Desmond, when she congratulated him. It also recounted how Gene refused to take any personal credit for his massive vote, saying it was an endorsement of the policies and position of Jack Lynch in those difficult days of Northern problems.

The article summed up what was the enduring appeal of Gene. Respect for his opponents, graciousness, modesty and loyalty were the qualities that defined Gene Fitzgerald. His ability was such that from the moment he entered the House, he was a rising star. He had already a successful professional career outside the House. In 1977, he was appointed Minister for Labour by Jack Lynch because of his knowledge and skills in human resources. Everyone in the House called him Gene or Gene Fitz. He was never really called "Minister" or "Deputy" — everyone here knew him as Gene Fitz. He was a great man of courtesy and approachability, and his words of encouragement made a huge impression on me. He was well able to fight his corner, of course, and he could turn into a very tough opponent if crossed. That was his job and what he had to do.

He was highly respected by trade unions and employers, which he had to deal with in very difficult times. Gene Fitz worked night and day for the people of the country and justified the faith given to him through massive votes in so many elections. It is worth recording that Gene's budget, delivered in January 1981, was at the height of a world recession but he still managed to increase long-term welfare payments by 25% and unemployment benefits by 20%. They were times of tough inflation and of chasing a spiral. It was hard for a Minister for Finance to try to get resources to chase that spiral.

At the core of Gene Fitz's politics was real humanity and concern for the most vulnerable in society, to whom he bravely gave. Gene put a shoulder to the national wheel at a time when it would have been easier to opt out. That was because he was a doer and not one to snipe on the sidelines. He knew it would be a tough job to build up the economy and he was brave enough to roll up his sleeves and get stuck into the work.

I remember those times well, when I was at the Cabinet table as Government Whip, and I knew the difficulties and problems he had to deal with. He was a colleague who successive Fianna Fáil Taoisigh knew could be relied on to carry out his duties with the minimum of fuss and maximum dedication. Gene was a great source of counsel over the years, especially as I followed many of his tracks. I was Minister for Labour and Minister for Finance and Gene was in those positions before me. He was always available either to listen to the problems we were facing or to give wise words. He was very kind in doing so.

His role of Fianna Fáil honorary secretary was not in any way an honorary position. Gene was very active and served on many committees. Even when his health was not as good in recent years, he hated to miss a meeting. He felt it absolutely essential to get to meetings and if he could not get there he would ring several times to make sure he could get a member personally or he would send a long letter giving his views for the meeting. He took such matters very seriously right up to this past winter.

After his passing we have missed him very much in our national executive and party rooms. The House will also miss him because a large number of people would have known Gene. He continued to come to Dublin on various activities and in filling various board positions. He continued to have an interest in this House.

If a person ever wanted to find out how any of the matches went in Cork or Munster in the GAA, not alone could one get the result on a Monday or Tuesday but one would get the full report from Gene. Deputy Coveney knows I like to know what is happening in Tracton because we can not always get it in newspapers. Gene would always give me the report on the Tracton matches and what happened in the south-east leagues or in parts of the country from where my family hail.

We will miss him and I will miss his notes of encouragement. Not a week went by when I did not get a handwritten letter. We acknowledge his work in Europe. When he left us prior to Christmas, national politics lost one of its finest gentlemen, who loved this House, politics and the action and buzz in the place. He was a very committed politician with friends on all sides of the House, a fact of which he was very proud. We have lost one of our most noblest ever public representatives on these benches.

I thank Gene's family for cherished memories of their husband, father, grandfather and brother. They have lost someone special to them and their loss is the greatest. We thank them for having given Gene to Fianna Fáil and to national and European politics. He will long be remembered in these Houses and we are glad the family can be with us today. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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