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

Is mór an pléisiúr dom ómós a thabhairt do Jackie Healy-Rae agus mo dhea-mhéin a ghabháil dá chlann. Ní leor a rá gur pholaiteoir é Jackie Healy-Rae. Bhí i bhfad níos mó i gceist leis. Ba cheann fhine polaitiúla é. Rugadh agus tugadh é i dtimpeallacht na sléibhte agus labhair sé ar son mhuintir na sléibhte. Sheas sé mar ionadaí ar son an mhuintir sin go cumasach agus le misneach. Dá bharr, thug sé guth náisiúnta di. Cuimhním inniu fear a raibh croí-chineálta agus lách agus a raibh grá mór aige dá chlann, do mhuintir Chiarraí, agus dá thír féin. Bhí grá mór acu dó dá bharr. Ba pholaiteoir cumasach thar na bearta é agus is cuimhin linn nár chaill sé sna toghcháin riamh. D'fhág sé oidhreacht ollmhór, a bheirt mhac ar lean siad é isteach sa Dáil ina measc.

Fianna Fáil has made many mistakes over the years but they must be still kicking themselves for not nominating Jackie Healy-Rae to run for them in the 1997 general election. Instead, he ran as an Independent and it marked the beginning of a remarkable political dynasty that continues today.

I am grateful for this opportunity to pay tribute to our former Member, Jackie Healy-Rae. Shortly after his election to the House in 1997 for Kerry South, he was interviewed by the distinguished RTÉ broadcaster, Brian Farrell, who questioned him about who he represented. Jackie's heartfelt and authentic response was, "I represent the plain people of Ireland". When pressed about what that meant, Jackie responded with a line that has gone down in legend, "The people who eat their dinner in the middle of the day."

Some people were perhaps unable to see beyond the trademark tartan cap but that was their foolish mistake. There was real political substance to Jackie Healy-Rae and he brought substantial benefits to the people of Kerry through his backing of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern's three-legged stool coalition between 1997 and 2002. He secured similar terms during the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition between 2007 and 2011.

I hope his family will take it as a compliment from me when I say he had a real flair for publicity and for memorable expressions. Coming from the beautiful surroundings of Kilgarvan and deriving the addendum to his name from his ancestral townland, Reacaisleach, Jackie Healy-Rae never lost an election, a winning trait that is clearly in the genes and has been passed down to his descendants.

I will always fondly remember the few drinks I had with him after the Munster final in Kerry one year and his hospitality when I visited his pub in Kilgarvan as Minster for tourism. It was a very late night and I am pleased he was able to get a late licence for the purpose so easily.

He bore his final illness with great courage and fortitude and after his death in 2014, a poetic tribute was paid to him: he came from the mountains and he spoke for the people of the mountains. Jackie Healy-Rae was not just a politician; he was a political chieftain. He represented his people with courage and ability and gave them a national voice, for which they loved him.

In his later years, he was ably assisted by his sons, Michael and Danny, on Kerry County Council. He loved to describe the relationship as three for the price of one. Both Michael and Danny followed him into this House and continue to speak, and sometimes even shout, for the people of Kerry. Today we also recognise their brothers, John and Denis, and sisters, Joan and Rosemary. I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to their mother, Julie Healy-Rae, who passed away in 2015.

I also offer our sympathies to Jackie's grandchildren, to Kathleen Cahill and her daughter and granddaughter, as well as Jackie's brothers and sisters and the wide circle of family, friends and supporters gathered here today. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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