Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le Mary, Joan, Emer, Lisa agus Rory, leis an ngarchlann, na deirfiúracha agus na cliamhaineacha ar bhás Noel. Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil deis agam cúpla focal a rá anseo inniu in ómós do Noel mar Gael uasal a bhí ann. Duine thar a bheith uasal a bhí ann. Duine a bhí mar an gcéanna is cuma cé leis a chas sé. Bhí an uaisleacht sin ag baint le chuile déileáil a bhí aige le daoine.

Occasions like this are obviously sad, but they are also an opportunity to pay tribute to the huge commitment not only of Noel but of his family because all of us realise that to do your work in this House, particularly if you live in a constituency on the other side of the country, takes a huge family effort and that it is not possible to do so without the support of a family. Noel had that in spades from his wife, Mary, his children, Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory, and the extended family.

I always felt Noel had a huge energy. When you met Noel, you met energy in spades. This stayed with him throughout his career. He never lost touch with the ordinary people on the ground. No matter what high office he held, he was the same Noel wherever you met him. Of course, he was the ultimate community person. He was a lifelong member of the GAA but also a huge people's person in the Fianna Fáil Party.

It has rightly been pointed out that Noel felt himself very much a citizen of Europe. He was also very much an Irish person, but it is true to say that, ultimately, he was a son of Galway and that is where his heart really always was.

His electoral record was impressive and I would like to put on the record that he was elected in a by-election in 1982, a general election in 1982 and in general elections in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. In fact, he never failed to get elected from the very first time he stood. He also served on Galway County Council until he became a Minister of State. He had an incredible record. That shows the respect in which he was held through good times and bad. He served, as has been pointed out, in many Departments. His influence in those Departments has been well spoken about today.

Noel was a fluent Irish speaker. Rud amháin faoi Noel, dá gcasfá le Noel - agus chas mé leis go minic i nGaillimh agus anseo i mBaile Átha Cliath agus i chuile áit - labhródh sé Gaeilge leat i gcónaí i dtosach báire, agus bhí Gaeilge mhaith aige. Ní amháin go raibh Gaeilge mhaith aige ach d’úsáid sé an Ghaeilge ar chuile ócáid a raibh deis.

Of course, when Noel retired from here he threw himself back into the GAA even though he was ill at the time. He served as the chair of the Galway county board, a position he excelled in.

I remember during his illness I met Noel on so many occasions. He never made any big issue about it. I inevitably asked him ask him, “Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú, Noel?” and he would reply, “Tá mé ag streachailt.”. He never spoke much about it beyond that.

He fought his illness with great bravery and lived his illness. Even though he was on constant treatment, he also lived his life to the full. He could not have done that if he had not had the support he had at home. As the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, said, he was in politics right to the end. He was interested in the nitty-gritty of local politics, who was coming forward and who was coming up in the future. He shared his wisdom and knowledge with everybody.

Fear uasal, calma, cróga a bhí i Noel. Chaith sé a shaol ag obair do dhaoine eile, go deonach, go minic, agus mar pholaiteoir. Ní dhéanfar dearmad air agus go mór mór, ní dhéanfar dearmad air i nGaillimh. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh sé.

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