Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Carty family. It is a sad day and a proud day. It is a sad day for the family because they have lost a husband and a father, somebody who was very loyal to the family. As Deputy Calleary has said, the family were also very loyal to him. He loved his family, county and Fianna Fáil.

I served with John on Mayo County Council for many years and I also served with him here in the Dáil. If I could describe him in a few words, it would be as a thorough gentleman. He was a good colleague and friend, and he was somebody with a bit of decency in him. One could depend on him and if somebody entered an agreement with John Carty, that agreement was held. He would not go behind anybody's back. I enjoyed his company and, as previous speakers have noted, he loved the county and Knock, particularly the airport. I am sure that today he and Monsignor Horan are up there. John would have a family tree and I would tell him to put it away as he would find more Fianna Fáil people to vote for him. He was just great.

John never got annoyed or really got aggravated. He could work with the Ministers and Government of the day. He certainly delivered for County Mayo. Sometimes the media might forget the love which a family has for a father who may be a national politician who is working hard and doing the best he can for his family, county and country.

As politicians we get abuse, and we are lucky to have families. John Carty was lucky with Kathleen and the beautiful family he had and to have the loyalty of his brother and sisters. He was a great colleague, a great friend and will be sadly missed. He will be missed by Fianna Fáil but, in particular, by his family whom I welcome to the House.

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