John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I am very pleased to be associated with this tribute. I welcome the Kenneally family here for the tribute to Billy. Some speakers have mentioned that they did not know Billy personally and my party leader, Deputy Kenny, noted that sometimes it happens that people stand up to pay tribute to people they have never met. My mother reminded me that I knew him and that I had met him several times. I informed Brendan of this last week and that Billy used to buy me lemonade when I was a kid visiting the Dáil. My mother asked me if I remembered this and I did. He was always there with a few pence to buy me a bottle of lemonade when my father brought me up to the Dáil.

To put aside the Fianna Fáil - Fine Gael rivalry, the word most people in Waterford would use to describe Billy is "generous". I spoke to my father and it is a word he used to describe Billy. He remarked that Billy was a very fair and respectful person, very likable and someone with whom it was very easy to work. Since I have been here I cannot say as much for everyone but certainly I can say it of Brendan. The experience of my father was the same. Also, I had the experience of being a member of Waterford County Council with Patsy Kenneally. I can say the same of Patsy and that there was always an honest opinion, given quickly, something rare in politics and very refreshing.

The Kenneally family has probably one of the longest lineages in Irish politics. It stretches back to the 1930s. Last week, Deputy Brendan Kenneally told me that his grandfather served in this House for nine or ten years. Deputy Gormley made a telling remark, which I will turn around a little. He said he got to know Brendan over the course of two weeks and that this is when he learned how political families in this country work. The operative word is "work". The reason people such as the Kenneallys continue to be re-elected in Waterford is that they work for people. They have that reputation and it is important to point that out. That stood to them, particularly to Billy, who sat in this House for 17 years.

Again, I welcome the Kenneally family to the House and welcome being associated with this tribute. My father asked me to say that he wishes to be associated with the tribute as well.

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