Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Sinn Féin, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clanna na n-iarTheachtaí Richie Ryan agus John Browne. On my behalf and that of Sinn Féin, I extend sincere sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of former Deputies Richie Ryan and John Browne, both of whom passed away in March this year. I did not know Mr. Ryan but he had a lengthy career in public service, both domestically and internationally. He had the great privilege of serving as a Teachta Dála for over 20 years, representing the constituency and people of south Dublin from 1959 to 1982, as well as serving in the distinguished role of Minister for Finance from 1973 to 1977. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament.

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He was part of our first team of representatives in 1973 and was directly elected on a number of occasions thereafter right up until he left in 1986 to become a member of the European Court of Auditors. He served in a number of public service roles following his retirement from front-line politics. His contribution is to be marked and welcomed. I am sure that his family and his party are rightly proud of his lengthy career in public service. I extend my sympathies to his children, Declan, Cillian, Ultan, Aoife and Bláthnaid, and to all his friends and family as well as his colleagues in Fine Gael.

Similarly, I did not know Mr. Browne. He served before my time in this House. He too had a lengthy career here in Leinster House, including in the Seanad, and in local politics. He spent three terms in the Dáil representing the people of Carlow-Kilkenny and served as a member of Carlow County Council. Níl dabht ar bith go raibh seirbhís fád-téarma aige ó thaobh polaitíochta de go háitiúil, sa Seanad agus sa Dáil. Bhí sé ábalta na tránna sin uile a fhreastal don phobal ag an am céanna agus é mar dhuine as Contae an Chláir. That he managed to do all of that - to serve on Carlow County Council repeatedly, to be elected to the Dáil, to serve in the Seanad, and to represent the people of Carlow and the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny - despite being a Clare man is a mighty feat. I am sure that his family and his party colleagues are very proud of his long career in public service, a tradition carried on to this day by his son, Fergal, who is a councillor in County Carlow. Bhí gairm fhada aige in oifig phoiblí agus táim cinnte go bhfuil a mhuintir agus a pháirtí bródúil as gach aon rud a rinne sé ina sheal sa Seanad, ar an gcomhairle, agus anseo sa Dáil. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Nancy, his daughters, Carmel, Deirdre and Geraldine, his son, Fergal, all his grandchildren, his friends, his extended family, and his colleagues in Fine Gael. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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