Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also join my colleagues in paying tribute to our former Taoiseach, John Bruton. I was listening to the radio yesterday morning when we heard the sad news of the death of John, and we were reminded by Tommie Gorman of perhaps one of the lesser-known relationships that John forged during his distinguished political career. John Bruton and Billy Fox were elected to the Dáil on the same day in 1969, and, indeed, they shared an office together here in Leinster House. Sadly, Billy Fox was shot and murdered by the IRA in March 1974. Next month, we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Senator Billy Fox. I will always remember how passionately John spoke when he paid tribute to Billy at the 40th anniversary of his death in Aughamullan in 2014. John Bruton was only 26 years old when Billy Fox was murdered, and he said his death was forever imprinted on his mind and on his heart and it instilled in him a complete and utter abhorrence of paramilitary violence throughout his life.

John Bruton was a very straight, decent and hard-working politician, who upheld strong moral values but was always the true democrat.

John always believed in the importance of building peace between neighbours and enjoyed a very good relationship with former British Prime Minister John Major. In fact, it is probably fair to say the two Johns are the forgotten men of the peace process. Although John left the office of Taoiseach in 1997, the year before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there can be no doubt that the foundations and the spadework for that historic agreement were laid and well progressed under his leadership.

John's political skills and ability to be inclusive meant, against many odds, that he was able to form a Government with the Labour Party and the Democratic Left. Very few Governments are appreciated while still in office but it is fair to say, with the benefit of hindsight, that the Rainbow Government is widely considered to have done a good job, having led Ireland through a period of considerable social and economic progress.

I have no doubt that, over the coming days, John's family, friends and many colleagues will gain solace from hearing the stories and accounts of the legacy he has left behind. To his wife Finola, son Matthew, daughters Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth, brother Richard and sister Mary, I want to say that it is a legacy of which they can be rightly proud. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

See this speech in context