Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Inniu, déanaimid comhbhrón agus tugaimid ómós do bheirt Bhall den Teach seo a d'fhreastal anseo le honóir agus le gradam. Bhí fuath go smior agus go buan ag Brendan McGahon agus Seymour Crawford don bhforéigean agus bhí siad tiomanta go gcuirfí an síocháin i réim san oileán seo. Mar Bhaill de Tionól Parlaiminteach na Breataine-na hÉireann, d'oibrigh siad ar chúlstáitse anseo agus i Londain chun cairdeas idir an dá thaobh a chur chun cinn agus tuisint níos doimhne a chothú. Teachtaí Dála dúthrachtacha, cróga ab iad aroan, a chur go mór le saol agus sochaí ár dtír.

In politics as in life, it takes courage to swim against the tide. It is one thing to stand up for one's principles when they are popular and widely accepted; it is quite another to stand up and speak up when one's views are unpopular or when one goes against the views of one's colleagues, especially when there is a considerable threat to one's life.

Brendan McGahon's career of public service was defined by his political courage. He was a man of principle and great personal courtesy. He had friends on all sides of this Chamber. He once remarked that he sometimes got on better with those on the other benches. Notwithstanding, he was very much an admired respected colleague in Fine Gael and colleagues valued his integrity and courage.

The history books record how Brendan McGahon stood up to the Provisional IRA and shone a dark light on their dark deeds and cruelty. He famously refused to close his newsagent's shop in Dundalk during the funerals of hunger strikers in 1981, despite threats to his life and limb. Throughout his career, he excoriated the Provisional IRA for its violence and hypocrisy, and he gave voice to its victims.

As a teetotaller, he was disgusted by the glorification of alcohol and wanted greater punishments for drink-driving offences. I had the opportunity to meet him on several occasions. While I did not agree with all his views, I certainly respected them. He opposed the abolition of the death penalty as well as the decriminalisation of homosexuality. At the same time, he supported the introduction of divorce in certain circumstances and defied the Fine Gael party Whip to vote against hare coursing.

Brendan showed the same tenacity and determination in the Dáil as he did on the football pitch, at an earlier time in his life playing for Dundalk F.C. For nearly 20 years between 1982 and 2002 he represented the people of Louth with distinction and he was a tireless advocate for the economic development of his county. I believe he would be rightly proud at the progress made there in recent years.

Sadly his wife, Celine, predeceased him. We offer our condolences today to their five children, their extended family, including Councillor John McGahon, who is known to many of us in the House, and his considerable number of friends. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

In a distinguished career of public service, Seymour Crawford was a peacemaker who used his considerable expertise to serve his community, his constituents and his country. He represented the people of Cavan-Monaghan in this Chamber for 19 years. We benefitted enormously from his considerable experience as a farmer, as a director of the CBF and as vice president of the Irish Farmers' Association. It gave him unique insights into agriculture and related issues, such as animal welfare, drainage and the beef industry. I know his advice was greatly valued during the particularly difficult GATT negotiations. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has rightly described him as the best Minister for agriculture we never had and I think that is a very fair description.

A gentle giant, Seymour was passionate on so many issues, including education, the care of the elderly, rural roads, tourism and social welfare. With a good sense of humour and natural humility, he knew how to bring people along with him and how to strike a good deal. He was perhaps most at home in his constituency office in the Diamond with files all around him, putting his considerable skills to the service of his constituents. As a bachelor politician, he was truly married to the job.

For 14 years he was a member of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body and then the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, later serving as Vice Chairman. As a Presbyterian from a rural Border community, he knew all about the different traditions on the island and he played a crucial role during one of the most important periods of the peace process, bringing his unique perspective to the table. Peace and reconciliation were his overriding concerns and he did much to develop understanding and trust between North and South.

On a personal note, I had the privilege of working alongside Seymour during his final term in the Dáil, which was my first. I know that I am not the only member of the current Government to have listened to and learned from him prior to his retirement and to have enjoyed his company in the Member's restaurant on Wednesday nights. Today we offer our condolences and sympathies to his niece Kirsten, his nephews Andrew and Alistair and his extended family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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