Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son pháirtí Shinn Féin, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le mic agus iníonacha iar-Thánaiste agus iar-Theachta Peter Barry, a bhfuair bás i mí Lúnasa. On my behalf and on behalf of Sinn Féin I want to extend sincere sympathy to the family and loved ones of the former Tánaiste and Member of this House, Peter Barry, following his passing last August.

I did not know Peter personally but his exploits as a politician and as a businessman are well known. It is clear to everyone that he excelled at both. He shunned, apparently, the description of businessman in favour of that of tea taster when registering in the Dáil register over his lengthy political life. He succeeded in turning the family business, Barry's Tea, into one of the great iconic Irish brands that is loved and revered throughout the country and overseas, as has already been recorded, but nowhere more so, I suspect, than in his native Cork.

Peter followed his father, Anthony, into public life when he was first elected to the Dáil in 1969. He served continuously for 28 years, being elected on no less than nine occasions until his retirement in 1997. During that time, Peter held ministerial office at the Departments of Education, Environment, Transport and Power and Foreign Affairs. He also served as deputy leader of his party, Fine Gael, and briefly as Tánaiste in 1987. Among such lofty roles, perhaps more importantly for a Corkman, was that of Lord Mayor of the city of Cork. Peter held the role in 1970-71, an office held by his father before him and one which Peter's daughter, Deirdre, with whom I have had the pleasure of serving in this House and who is now an MEP for Ireland South, would also go on to hold. That is perhaps a family record not only in Cork but across the island.

Peter had a long and distinguished career in public office but it is clear from the many expressions and comment on his death that he was a dedicated family man and a loving husband to his wife Margaret, who passed away in 2013. I have no doubt the Barry family gathered in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery today are remembering her as well as we meet and pay tribute to Peter. He was a loving father to his children Deirdre, Tony, Fiona, Donagh, Conor and Peter and a grandfather to 21 garpháistí, many of whom are here today to remember their grandfather.

I extend my sympathy to the entire Barry family and the sympathy of my party to all of Peter's friends and loved ones. I wish to extend my sympathy to the Taoiseach and his colleagues in Fine Gael, recognising that they have lost a party colleague and stalwart. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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