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

Or ever, by the way, just in case the Deputies wanted to ask.

I am grateful to have this opportunity to pay tribute to a member of the Fianna Fáil family who gave a lifetime of service to our country. These tributes, which we pay on occasion in the Dáil, are very important occasions. They serve a higher purpose than simply honouring those who have served in this House and paying our respects to their families. They also remind us, across all parties and none, of the higher purposes of politics - about loyalty, about love of community and about helping others. Around the world, we have seen a coarsening of political debate, and a cynicism and nastiness about politics has crept into popular discourse. Paying tribute to honourable servants of our country like Mark Killilea sweeps away some of that cynicism and reminds us of what unites us all in politics instead of focusing on differences.

Mark devoted his life to helping others and to helping the country, and by honouring him and others like him, we remember why we became involved in politics in the first place and are inspired to try to do better and try to do more.

Bhí an-ghnaoi agus an-mheas ag an bpobal ar Mark Killilea mar pholaiteoir a rinne fónamh dár dtír mar chomhairleoir Contae, mar Sheanadóir, Mar Theachta Dála, mar Aire Stáit, mar Fheisire de Pharlaimint na hEorpa agus mar chaestóir. Bhí sé an-éasca dó cairdeas a dhéanamh le daoine ar chruthaigh sé nasc in Eoraip leo ar bhain Éire tairbhe go buan astu. Ba pholaiteoir é a chreid go n-itear an dinnéar i lár an lae. Mar Aire Stáit, chuir se feabhas ar chúrsaí cumarsáide in Éirinn agus d'fhág sé oidhreacht shuntasach ar sheirbhís poiblí dúinn.

In many ways, Mark Killilea epitomised the spirit of public service. His father, also Mark, was a founding member of Fianna Fáil and served as a Deputy for almost 34 years.

Markeen, as he was known to many of his friends, inherited a belief in helping others as well as a love of community. He served the people of Galway and our country with distinction.

As Deputy Micheál Martin mentioned, when Mark became a Deputy in 1977, the waiting list to have a phone line connected to one's house was legendary. Indeed, it was one of the queries most frequently received by Deputies. As Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs from 1979 to 1981, he oversaw a revolution in our communications network which ensured that the problem was eventually fixed.

Mark made many telling contributions in the House, but perhaps most effective were the heckles he deployed against members of my party. He famously described Professor John Kelly as a pitch and toss merchant. The Irish Timesreports that Mark had the ability to halt an entire debate in its tracks with his interruptions. Indeed, we are told he bashed the Opposition's record on everything from security to potato plants. As an MEP from 1987 to 1999, he had many achievements, most notably working on reforming the Common Agricultural Policy such that small farmers would be able to prosper. Everyone liked and trusted Mark and he was able to make alliances and friendships, including with Ian Paisley. He often attempted to bring together countries that were arguing with each other and sometimes did so with success.

He loved sport, especially his beloved Corofin GAA club, fishing and horse racing, and won many prizes playing golf. Whether as a farmer, businessman, auctioneer or politician, he lived a life of hard work and integrity.

I offer my condolences and those of Fine Gael to his wife Anne, their children Éidín, Niamh, Deirbrin, Niall, Donagh, Medbh and Eimhín, and all of their family and friends. We also remember their son, Mark, who died tragically in 2009. Donagh has continued the family tradition of public service as a councillor representing the people of Tuam and I know Mark's daughter, Medbh, as a result of her excellent work for the Government Information Service, following on a proud family tradition of service to the State through politics and the Civil Service. Mark did the State much service. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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