Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Thar ceann Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre, déanaim comhbhrón le clann Uí hIrighile ar bhás an iar-Uachtaráin, an Dochtúir Pádraig Ó hIrighile. Ní raibh aithne pearsanta agam ar an Dochtúir Ó hIrighile, ach is cuimhin liom an ard-mheas a bhí air ón phobal mar Aire i rith na seascaidí, mar Aire Stáit ag tús an fhoréigin sa Tuaisceart, mar Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha a rinne an idirbheartaíocht a thóg an tír seo isteach sa Chomhphobal Eorpach, agus ina dhiaidh sin mar Coimisinéir Eorpach. Is cuimhin liom freisin an bhealach neamhspleách a chomhlíon sé a dhualgaisí mar Uachtarán na hÉireann.

It is an indication of the respect and esteem with which Dr. Patrick Hillery was held that the tributes paid to him since his death on Saturday by those who were his political opponents were as warm and generous as from those who were his political colleagues.

While he had kept a relatively low profile since his retirement from Áras an Uachtaráin in 1990, Dr. Patrick Hillery had a remarkable achievement of public service during the previous 40 years and was one of the most important and influential figures in Irish public life for four decades. There are few public figures who have left behind such a record of achievement at constituency, national and international level. Dr. Hillery was a loyal son of Clare and proud to represent that county in this House. He maintained his affection for the county and its people until his death.

Dr. Hillery was one of the political figures who emerged during the 1950s and 1960s who provided a link between the men and women who fought for Irish freedom and established an independent State and the modern generation of political representatives. He was a running mate of Éamon de Valera's in the 1951 general election and they represented their county together for another eight years. I am sure when approached to run with Mr. de Valera in 1951, the young doctor could never have envisaged that more than 30 years later he would be one of his mentor's successors as President of Ireland.

It was inevitable that such a talented and capable man would rise through the ranks. Dr. Hillery proved to be an innovative Minister in a number of key Departments. He was a Minister who recognised the potential of education and during his term in that Department laid much of the groundwork for the subsequent announcement by Donogh O'Malley of the introduction of free second level education.

When appointed Minister for External Affairs in 1969, Dr. Hillery would have been aware of the task he was likely to face in terms of the final negotiations for Ireland's entry into the then EEC but he could hardly have appreciated the challenge with which he would be confronted by events across the Border. It is, perhaps, in his role as Minister for External Affairs, in that tumultuous period between 1969 and 1973, that he made his greatest contribution to Irish life. Young people will have little appreciation of the instability and dangers to Irish democracy that emerged as events in Northern Ireland threatened to spill over the Border and engulf the entire island. The arms crisis and subsequent trial, the arrival of British troops in Northern Ireland, the introduction of internment, the developing bombing campaign, Bloody Sunday and the burning of the British Embassy were all hugely challenging issues that confronted him in that short period.

At a time when cool heads and calm words were never more important, Paddy Hillery rose to the challenge. We owe him a debt of gratitude for the crucial role he played in ensuring the stability of the institutions of the State and our democratic system during that turbulent period. Given the role he played in the negotiations for admission, Dr. Hillery was an obvious candidate to be Ireland's first European Commissioner. The groundbreaking role he played as Social Affairs Commissioner demonstrated in practical terms the benefits that EU membership could bring to the living and working conditions of the Irish people. Despite the difficulties created by the first oil crisis, he was a genuinely reforming Commissioner introducing many additional protections and benefits for workers across Europe. His term of office also saw the establishment of the first combat poverty programme. He demonstrated his independence when he was prepared to take on the Government and insist that the principle of equal pay for men and women was proceeded with.

If, as has been suggested, Dr. Hillery was a reluctant nominee for President, it was an indication of his sense of public duty that he was prepared to take on the position and to serve in it for 14 years. If he was a reluctant nominee, he never allowed it to show or to interfere with his constitutional and public duties. He brought a quiet dignity to the office of President and following the dramatic developments of the previous few years — the premature death of President Childers and the resignation in controversial circumstances of President Ó Dálaigh — that is perhaps the quality that was most needed in the Áras at the time.

If I were to pick four words to sum up the public career of Dr. Patrick Hillery, they would be dignity, duty, commitment and honour. The loss of a husband and father is always a sad occasion. I only hope that the genuine esteem and affection in which Dr. Hillery was held by the Irish people will bring some degree of comfort to his widow Maeve, his son John and the Hillery family. On behalf of the Labour Party I offer them our profound sympathy.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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