Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar son Pháirtí Fhianna Fáil agus ar mo shon féin, déanaim comhbhrón le clanna Liam Mhic Cosgair, Mary, Liam agus Ciarán, agus le baill Pháirtí Fhine Gael. Is léir gur polaiteoir den scoth ab ea é. D'oibrigh sé go dian dícheallach ar son mhuintir na tíre. Bhí sé dílis don Stát, dá chreideamh agus, go háirithe, don chóras daonlathais agus bhí sé láidir, cróga agus tuisceanach agus é ag déileáil le dúshláin mhóra le linn a shaoil.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I would like to express our condolences to the family of Liam Cosgrave - Mary, Liam and Ciarán - and to all in Fine Gael who saw him as a statesman central to their pride in the history of their party. When he was born 97 years ago, his father, who had shown incredible bravery during the Easter Rising, was a Deputy in the First Dáil, a Minister in the Government, a Dublin City alderman and a prisoner of the British authorities. It was a time of real fear and deep uncertainty for the Cosgrave family but it was also when they developed the closeness that has always been one of their defining features. Liam was particularly devoted to his late wife, Vera. To be born the son of W. T. Cosgrave was to be born the son of an important figure in a revolution and a central figure in the early decades of the State. There is no question that absolute loyalty to his father's ideals formed the core of Liam's beliefs, but he was also a major figure in this own right.

One of the things that is too often missing in Irish politics is willingness to be generous and understanding towards other political traditions or to respect the fact that it is possible to share patriotism but disagree on programme. I have no hesitation in saying that Liam Cosgrave was a man who gave so much to Irish public life and deserves a place of honour in our history. It would be completely wrong to imply that he was some form of consensual or non-partisan figure; he was a party loyalist and an always-robust opponent. His great skills as a platform speaker were frequently used to the detriment of those he saw as wrong-headed. While they were mainly focused on members of my party, he often made time to deliver a sharp message to perceived troublemakers within the Fine Gael Party also.

As well as serving as a Deputy for 38 years, he led his party for 12 years and served in or led three Governments. Throughout this time, he was, most importantly, a central figure in, first, maintaining and then building a distinct and European Christian democratic tradition in our politics. This was far from inevitable, particularly given the difficulties and diversions his party experienced soon after it was founded. This Christian democratic tradition, in spite of many things with which I would disagree, is an important component in a moderate politics that has achieved far more for Ireland than anything that would have been possible with the ideological extremes that have been so much stronger elsewhere.

In terms of his early career, we should particularly value the contribution Liam Cosgrave made as Minister for External Affairs. When the Soviet veto on Irish membership of the United Nations was lifted, he reaffirmed Ireland's belief in strong rules-based co-operation between nations. Ireland's participation in the United Nations was not to be about asserting national self-interest but about working with others for the benefit of all. In doing this, he reaffirmed the spirit of the 1916 Proclamation, for which his father had fought so bravely. Ireland's unique contribution to the United Nations and the exceptional international standing in which our country is held by so many others began to be constructed because of Liam Cosgrave's leadership at that time.

As Taoiseach, his Government faced the rising impact of the illegitimate campaigns of the Provisional IRA and loyalists. Not all of its responses were acceptable, and these were correctly reversed by later Governments. However, the basic thrust of working to promote democratic politics and fight attempts to intimidate communities was both correct and received support from the overwhelming majority of the Irish people. Liam Cosgrave, together with Jack Lynch, ensured that the fixed will of the Irish people to oppose violence and work for reconciliation was never in doubt here or internationally.

Deputy Enda Kenny is the only member of the House who served here alongside Liam Cosgrave. I remember well that, at the moment of Deputy Kenny's great success in 2011, he was visibly moved when talking about receiving a telephone call from his former leader and colleague. It struck me how important this connection to Fine Gael's history was for him. For many of us who came here only after Liam Cosgrave's portrait was hung outside the Chamber, however, he was regarded as very much a part of Irish public life throughout his retirement. I regularly had the opportunity to meet him at important commemorations and at Croke Park.

I always looked forward to talking with him and I was always struck by his sharp mind, vivid memories and polite way of addressing points of controversy.

Of course, he was immensely proud of his father and his role in 1916, as well his promotion of the nationalist and republican cause well before then. At State commemorations over the years, in particular during last year's centenary commemorations, he was a reminder that the great generation which fought a revolution and brought Ireland's cause to the attention of the world was a broad one. In honouring them, we have a duty to put aside party labels and focus on the unity of purpose which they showed.

Soon before his passing, I had the great pleasure of sitting with the late Colm Murray from RTÉ, during which he told me of a wonderful day he spent at Punchestown with Liam Cosgrave. He said the racing was okay but the stories were magnificent.

When one listens to the many recordings of him down through the years it is hard not to be struck by how his was a distinct accent, one which is now quite rare. To today's listeners, it reinforces a sense of him representing another era, something reinforced by the fact that it is 36 years since he left Dáil Éireann having served here through nearly his entire working life.

He was a child of a rising Dublin Catholic professional class. He shared its passions and many of its views. He was proud of his nationalist heritage, deeply committed to his faith and firm in his attitudes. He saw Ireland as a proud nation which should stand with the international community in a spirit of co-operation and a commitment to democracy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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