Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My first knowledge of Liam Cosgrave came from my political mentor, the former Labour leader Brendan Corish. Although they came from very different political traditions, they became very firm friends. They worked together on the basis of trust and honour. Brendan often told me of the many difficult and challenging issues, including the economy and national security, which were dealt with by the two of them, face-to-face and in direct conversation without aides or advisors.

He described to me a generous man, who took the time to listen carefully and to act always in the best interests of the country rather than the party.

Liam Cosgrave was a person of deep principle and still he managed to hold together a Government between 1973 and 1977 which had been labelled a Government of all the talents. That Government certainly had great talent but it also had very strong personalities. There was certainly a clash of views over a changing Ireland which came to a head when, as the Taoiseach referenced, Liam voted according to his own strongly held conservative views against his own Government's Bill to allow married couples to have access to contraception. It is an amazing thought now. He was a man of his time whose political views were shaped in the earliest years of this State. He was a patriot whose primary focus was the defence of the institutions of this newborn State. Lest we forget, those institutions were under direct and violent attack from the IRA of that time.

Brendan Corish told me many stories about Liam Cosgrave. They shared a mutual interest in horse racing as well as a shared appreciation of a glass of Paddy. One story is well-known during that period of Government when Brendan and Liam spent a very long time together locked in a room in Government Buildings. Senior members of both parties became increasingly alarmed that the Government had reached some irreconcilable impasse. When the doors finally opened, it was seen that both men were watching the races and enjoying a half one.

We are in an age where personality sometimes trumps substance but Liam Cosgrave was a man of substance. He had a clear view of his country, his religion and his politics. His achievements, particularly at Sunningdale, set the agenda and arguably the actual framework for the peace process on this island. With a deep sense of self-deprecation that all of us would do well to copy, he left it to history to judge his stewardship and I believe history will judge him well. In recent years, like others, my personal contacts with Liam were at Croke Park or State occasions and he was always supported by his gentle daughter Mary. Liam never failed to have a personal and incisive comment to make about the happenings of the day. In discussions with colleagues from Fine Gael over the past few years, I have referenced Liam Cosgrave's partnership Government more than once. He left a distinguished legacy of service, of respect, of loyalty, and I say it again, of true patriotism. I extend my condolences and those of the Labour Party to Mary, Liam, Ciarán and all his extended family. I also extend them to the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael Party on the loss of such a significant figure. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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