Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It gives me great pleasure to add my voice to the words of tribute for the late Peter Barry, a man whom I met on only a small number of occasions. Of the family, I know his daughter Deirdre best. I acknowledge Peter Barry's incredibly distinguished record of public service. It is not often enough remarked upon that the families of politicians pay a price for the work we do and the fact that we are away from home so much. Peter's late wife, Margaret, and their children all undoubtedly paid that price. I think the reward for the latter is the pride they undoubtedly have for the enormous work he did for Cork, for the country and internationally.

As a young boy growing up in Cork and becoming aware of what was going on in our country in the mid-1980s and of the political figures of that time, I gained much respect for the late Peter Barry and his steadying influence, particularly in his four or so very difficult years as Minister for Foreign Affairs at such a fraught juncture in the politics of our island. As a young man, I was struck by the ease with which he moved among people. He moved very gently among all sorts of people from all sections of society.

Not all politicians have that ability but he certainly had it. It was something he did very comfortably and it was very natural for him.

His business experience made him a better politician, as the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said. It brings home to all of us the need to bring more experience and people with business qualities into politics. He did an enormous amount of work quietly, and even at his funeral in Cork at the end of August, somebody heavily involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul remarked to me that the work he did and the help he gave to people in a very quiet and dignified way is an untold story of Peter Barry. He gave a contribution and support to Cork GAA and many sporting organisations, which is well and truly acknowledged, but he did many small things quietly that helped people significantly. I know that for a fact.

He had a real sense of duty of public service to bring his undoubted qualities to bear in public policy. The same is true of his daughter, Deirdre, who does not need politics but has chosen that route from a sense of duty and a desire to serve the people she represents. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to say these few words and to acknowledge the immense contribution of the late Peter Barry to politics, public life and, not least, to the people of Cork he represented so well for 28 years.

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