Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I join Deputy Kenny in paying tribute to Joe Doyle who was a true gentleman in Irish politics. On behalf of my party and the Government, I extend my sincere condolences to Joe's wife, Peggy, and to his children, David, Michael and Róisín. I would also like to extend sympathy to Deputy Kenny and the Fine Gael Party on the loss of a former distinguished colleague.

Joe Doyle was a man of integrity, dignity and conviction who first entered this House following the election of November 1982. That was the last of three elections within 18 months and Joe contested all of them. During those 18 months he more than doubled his vote, which was not an insignificant achievement when one considers that one of his running mates was Dr. Garret FitzGerald, the then leader of the Fine Gael Party. Notwithstanding sharing the constituency with such a prominent party colleague, Joe was not overshadowed. After all, he had been born and bred in his constituency of Dublin South-East. He knew his area and it knew him. His father had worked with the Dublin United Tramways Company and the family lived in a house which that company had built for its employees just behind the tram sheds in Simmonscourt Terrace. I understand the family still live there to this day.

Joe Doyle was very much a man of his community. Before his election to the Dáil, as Deputy Kenny said, he served as the sacristan in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook for almost three decades. While he was a Fine Gael stalwart and loyalist, Joe Doyle was also his own man with his own distinct views. His contribution to the many debates, some referred to by Deputy Kenny, were clear-eyed yet compassionate. He illustrated his strong beliefs and his practical approach. He contested his fourth general election in six years in 1987. Unfortunately he did not make it back to the Dáil then, but he did return, alongside Garret FitzGerald, in 1989 and served until 1992. In all he contested seven general elections in 16 years and he served two terms in Seanad Éireann. As an electoral candidate he experienced both victory and defeat, but whatever the outcome he always retained his own dignity.

While we knew him as a national politician he also served with distinction on Dublin City Council for a quarter of a century. No doubt the highlight of his career at this time was when he served as Dublin's Lord Mayor in 1998-99. His year in the Mansion House coincided with many immigrants coming to this city. He, as a native Dubliner, was quick to speak out against those shrill voices who did not welcome the new arrivals as they should.

In essence, Joe Doyle was a kind and thoughtful man who gave politics a good name. He served with distinction and integrity. As Deputy Kenny said, we recall our many encounters with him on this side of the House also, both within and around the environs of the House. We enjoyed many a day - as Deputy Kenny said, he was a good partner in crime - when we were on the racecourse together.

See this speech in context