Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Labour Party, I wish to express my sympathies to the family of Shane McEntee, to his many friends and to his colleagues in the Fine Gael Party.

Shane McEntee was a gentleman in every sense of the word. I first got to know Shane as a formidable candidate in the Meath by-election, which first saw him elected to the Dáil. Over the years he served in this House, and during his time in government, I came to know him better, to respect him, to admire his work and commitment, and to like him. He was a gentle man whose passion and commitment came through when he spoke in this Chamber and elsewhere about the causes that inspired him. He was a fervent advocate for his community, for his constituency and, more broadly, for farmers and rural people generally. Shane was a man deeply committed to serving those around him and to making a real difference to people's lives.

As a Minister, he impressed me in how he brought that same level of commitment and work ethic to his portfolio. It was clear to all that this was a man committed to serving both his county and his country, and to the ideals of public service.

We all were deeply shocked when we heard of Shane's passing. None of us can ever truly know what he suffered. I pay tribute to the courage of his family who have spoken out so clearly about the circumstances surrounding his passing, the lessons that must be drawn and the practices that must be changed.

These are indeed troubled times. As a country, we are going through a great crisis but, as people, we do have duties to each other. We all have a duty of civility and a responsibility for personal respect. The age of deference is past but not the need for decency. If, as a people, we lose our sense of decency and of the basic respects that we owe to each other, then we have lost far more than we can ever count. Those of us in public life, those engaged in the practice of politics and those who comment on it have a duty to think through the consequences of what we say and how we say it, and nobody can walk away from these consequences. These are difficult times that require us all to put country before political advantage but to be human, times when we need those of the character and calibre of the late Shane McEntee.

I offer his family deepest condolences. In these difficult days, I hope that they can draw some comfort from knowing that Shane was held in the highest of respect in this House and that he served his country with distinction. He was a lovely man. Cuimhneoimid air go deo. Tréan-fhear a bhí ann. Fear a thug seirbhís don tír, do Chondae na Mí agus dá chlann. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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