Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We move now to expressions of sympathy for our late distinguished colleague and friend, Noel Treacy. Before I call on the Tánaiste I welcome to the House Mrs. Mary Treacy, who is accompanied today by her daughters, Emer and Joan, and her son, Rory. I welcome Juliet Treacy; Paul, Ciarán, and Daithí Hogan; Maria Treacy, Nóirín and John Byrne; and Jim, Claire, Stevie, Jarlath and Gabriel Cloonan. I thank them all for joining us today.

In 38 years in public life I have met very many fine people. All of us have, but I can say with absolute certainty I have never met finer than the late Noel Treacy. He was an extraordinary and wonderful man, one whose commitment to his family, to Galway, and to his country was passionate and without parallel. That commitment was reciprocated. If I needed an example of it, I remember travelling to the funeral in Gurteen on that cold, wet miserable February evening, and the crowds as we passed Ballinasloe and headed towards Gurteen. There were crowds at the crossroads, many of them wearing yellow vests. It was at the time of the yellow vest protests in France and I thought, "My God, the gilets jauneshave arrived in east Galway." I said to one man at the crossroads, "You are out in great numbers." His response was, "Well if we didn't come out for Noel, we wouldn't come out for anyone." It was wonderful to see how people respected him in the constituency that he represented.

He was a wise man. I remember him once saying to me that those of us who were fortunate enough to be elected to this House were elected because we made a contract with the people, and if we did not break the contract, they never would. Noel never broke it, and the people of Galway never broke it, as far as he was concerned.

We talk about people being a people person. Noel Treacy was the epitome of a people person. He knew people, he cared about them, and he wanted to engage with them. I remember the halcyon days when we would have lunch or dinner in the Members' dining room here in Leinster House. I was one that was probably there for both lunch and dinner. The thing about having Noel at the table was the number of times he would have to get up, because he would get up to greet somebody coming in or somebody going out. That huge hand would go out and there would be a vigorous shake. When he would come back to the table he would tell us who the person was, what their connections were, who they played for, and maybe what political party they supported as well. He had a phenomenal knowledge of people and recollection for people's names and faces. In a way, it struck me that he was a walking Wikipedia before Wikipedia ever came into existence.

He was a friend to all of us here. He delivered wonderful service to his family, to his constituency, and to his country. Every one of us who had the privilege to know him are better from having known him. I ndáiríre, ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Táimid bailithe anseo inniu chun ár n-ómós do, agus ár meas ar, Noel Treacy a chur in iúl. Cuirim fáilte faoi leith roimh Mary, Joan, Emer, Lisa, Rory agus a chlann go léir atá anseo. Níl aon amhras ach gur pholaiteoir den scoth a bhí ann. B'Aire Stáit agus tírghráthóir é. Bhí sé fréamhaithe i measc a phobail féin agus ina dhúiche féin. D'oibrigh sé go dian dícheallach, Domhnach is Dálach. Beidh cuimhní geala maithe againn go léir ar a chairdeas agus ar a gháire croíúil fáilteach. Thar aon rud, is cuimhin liom fear den chéad scoth le fuinneamh agus le díograis ach go háirithe. Bhí grá ag Noel dá chontae, dá thír agus dá pháirtí. D'fhág sé a rian orainn go léir, cinnte dearfach.

In our daily work as Members of Dáil Éireann, it is an unfortunate reality that the most attention is paid to the most intense exchanges about the issues which are dominating the day's headlines. We should do more to value those occasions when we take time to step back and reflect on how much has been achieved in this democratic republican Chamber and the many diverse personalities who have served here to build a country which faces many challenges but has achieved great things during its history.

It is in this spirit that I am very honoured today, on behalf of myself and of the Fianna Fáil Party, to pay tribute to the life and achievements of our late friend and colleague, Noel Treacy. I welcome his wife, Mary, who for so long was his partner in community and in political life, as well as Noel's children and other members of the family.

Noel was a Member of this House for 29 years and served as Minister of State for 17 of those years. In that time, he served his community and his country with dedication and left behind him a record of real substance. He did not seek headlines or self-promotion, but the record shows that Noel Treacy made a serious and sustained contribution to the development of Galway and Ireland. Everyone who knew Noel understood that the wonderful values of Galway and the west defined him; values of community, of shared progress, and of a deep and inclusive patriotism. It is in the sporting, educational, cultural, agricultural and religious life of Gurteen, as well as Ballymacward, that we find the essence of Noel Treacy. This is a part of our country which had often struggled, but it has a tremendous sense of community, as we all experienced on the day of the funeral.

From his earliest days, Noel was active in everything, especially rural development. He was a leader in the local branches of Muintir na Tíre, and what is now Foróige. He joined Macra na Feirme at 16 and went on to be county chairman. As anyone who knows the work of those great organisations can tell you, they promote a broad idea of rural development and community life, something which Noel always talked about.

The GAA was his great passion and he was to the fore at a moment of reform and development for Galway. The 1970s saw Galway hurling knocking on the door of the traditional powers of the game. The reorganisation of clubs and an incredibly competitive club championship provided the foundations. Noel played his part as an organiser and leader in his own club, Pádraig Pearses, and at county and national levels. All who love hurling remember Galway's breakthrough and the rousing rendition by Joe McDonagh and thousands of Galwegians of "The West's Awake". Noel absolutely adored talking about that team and the one which followed.

When Noel secured the nomination to stand in the 1982 by-election to fill Johnny Callanan's seat, without any background as a councillor or as a prominent face in Fianna Fáil, many people were surprised, yet he quickly showed why he was so highly rated, winning the by-election and every subsequent general election which he contested through nearly three decades. Within a year of election as a Deputy, he was appointed as a party spokesperson and he was given a range of organisational tasks within the party. This was a speed of promotion almost unknown at the time. The key to his service was that he believed not just in representing the people of Galway. He believed that each of us had a duty to make a serious contribution to the work of this Parliament and, if possible, to our Government.

Noel had a deep respect for our State and for its senior officeholders, irrespective of what party they came from. He believed in their good faith, even when he disagreed with them. He was a diligent and effective constituency representative, always promoting projects to improve the schools, clubs, community facilities and economic development of his county. I was always struck by how he even supported developments in parts of the country which were not in his constituency. For example, he was an active proponent of developing research facilities in the National University of Ireland, Galway. This was because he believed that the county, the region and the country as a whole would benefit and that rural communities would see many people given an opportunity to combine rural living with working in urban facilities.

Noel Treacy also took his roles as a parliamentarian and then as a Minister deeply seriously. He wanted to serve the interests of the country as a whole. Across 17 years he held ministerial roles in nine Departments. It is a mark of the man that he remains well regarded in every one of those Departments. Officials remember a Minister who was always on top of his responsibilities, who treated everyone with respect no matter what their position, and who was interested in substance.

If one looks back at the record of his speeches here and elsewhere, one can see that he had an enduring habit of always giving the credit to others. This is not a way to win headlines but it was central to his ability to have a sustained and positive impact. I will reference two of his roles in particular because they show how a man who was, at one level, very traditional in where he came from and in his values, and at making a serious contribution to building our modern society and economy. These were his roles as Minister of State with responsibility for science and technology and as the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs.

For five years, Noel was the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, three of which were during my time as Minister there. Unusually for the time, this appointment was both departmental and across government. It put him at the centre of policies that created whole new industries that employ tens of thousands of people today. During this time, Ireland became the first country in the world to connect every school to the Internet. Noel promoted this scheme throughout the country, visiting schools and encouraging teachers to engage with the new technology as a support for their work. He was also a voice for investing in our colleges and universities. Now, 20 years later, we often take this for granted. Many of the great research centres of technology-based employers found throughout the country today are traced to the decisions taken then.

Noel was a wonderful person to share a Department with. Noel's love for the Irish language showed itself at every stage as well. He enjoyed every opportunity to hold meetings or speak with people in Irish, seeing it as a living language and not just one for public display. Noel was always available to make sure that parliamentary business was handled professionally. No matter how complex the legislation, he was guaranteed to handle it well and to create a constructive atmosphere for the debate. If he had to decline a request or a proposal from the Opposition or a delegation, he did not hide from the fact that the Government cannot say yes to everyone.

Noel's final ministerial appointment was as the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. Noel was a passionate European, believing that Europe was the essential context for our country to thrive. At Council meetings in Brussels, in discussions with ambassadors and Ministers, in Dublin and throughout Europe, he represented our country incredibly effectively, always on top of this brief and always constructive, a believer in Europe and Ireland's role in Europe.

When he again became a backbencher Noel asked to become chairperson of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Under his leadership, the committee was a place that brought together people of different viewpoints and that reached out across traditional divides. It was a place where new agendas were being looked for to replace arguments that offered no positive future. I appeared many times before the committee during those periods when Noel was chairperson. It was a constructive, non-partisan and effective model for how parliamentary committees can have an impact.

After Noel retired from the House, he faced many health challenges but he never let up with his pace of work. He had held important public offices but was willing and eager to continue his life of service in more modest but equally important ways. He was a tireless chairman of the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was always convinced that Galway would again reassert itself as a power. He continued to support local projects and he continued to offer me personally, and the Fianna Fáil party, advice and assistance. He was always positive, always constructive, and always thinking of others.

Noel Treacy's years in the Dáil and as a Minister of State saw great progress in our country, and he played a proud and significant role in this. As we remember him, we thank Mary and his entire family, who are with us today for their role in helping Noel. We say to you that we deeply appreciate his service and his friendship. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend our sympathies to all of Noel's family, to his wife Mary, to his children and to his grandchildren. Looking up at you all here today I have no doubt that his grandchildren were the apple of his eye. A grandad plays a really important role in our lives and especially when we are young. Although he is not here I have no doubt that he will never be too far away from you as you grow up, and no doubt you will go on to make him very proud as a grandfather.

Noel was born in Ballinasloe, a town I am very proud to represent in the Noel's constituency of Galway East, many parts of which I now represent and am proud to do so. I am told, and we have heard it here today, that Noel gave so generously to everything he was involved in, be that politics, the GAA, or his community. While Noel had a deep love for the GAA and served as Galway county board chairman, I know from reading about him that he was especially outspoken in his condemnation of gambling addiction in society and specifically within the GAA. Perhaps, as part of his legacy in this House, it should revisit that terrible scourge on our society and legislate as a House to tackle that. That would be one fitting tribute that all of us in this House could pay to Noel.

Again, I offer my condolences and those of my party to you his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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On behalf of the Labour Party I extend our sympathies to the family, friends and supporters of Noel Treacy, to his wife Mary and their four children, Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory, and all his grandchildren and extended family. I did not serve in the House with him, but by all accounts he was a formidable politician serving the people of Galway East for nearly 30 years from 1982 up until 2011.

The word "stalwart" is often used in politics to describe those who have loyally served their party for many years, and it can certainly be applied to Noel. But that word captures more than service. It speaks to those who work as part of the team and Noel always did that. Maybe it came from his keen interest in sports and GAA where he chaired the Galway County Board for five years – a term I am sure was very useful in the competitive field of Galway politics.

Even in retirement he worked as a director of elections and within Fianna Fáil, remaining steadfast in his support for his party. By-elections are never easy for candidates, especially when one's party is in Government, but Noel was one of those rare politicians. He set a mark in July 1982 when he won just over 50% of the vote in the by-election caused by the death of Fianna Fáil Deputy Johnny Callanan. Being re-elected across seven general elections is a remarkable feat, and his record of winning a by-election as a Member of a Government party stood for nearly 30 years.

In preparing to speak today I took a quick look at his time as a Minister of State and what stood out was the large number of Departments he served across, from Finance, to Health, Justice, Transport, Education, Enterprise, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs. He was clearly a trusted member of Fianna Fáil for all its leaders throughout that time, accruing 17 years of ministerial service. As someone who served as a Minister of State for 17 months, 17 years sounds absolutely exhausting. I am sure there were many stories collected from each Department, and achievements in each, especially in the OPW, that remain cherished memories for his family and supporters, his former staff and colleagues.

It is worth recalling that as Minister of State with responsibility for science, technology and commerce, he played a key role in promoting Science Week and in 1998 he said "I would like to see science and technology becoming part of our culture, like the arts and sport". His work there continues and played a key role in the building of our knowledge economy. As the Labour Party's former leader Eamon Gilmore said on his passing: “Very saddened to hear of the death of Noel Treacy. I have great memories of him as a fellow student in Garbally and of our many years together in Dáil Éireann.”

Noel died at the relatively young age of 70. I know that his passing will have broken the hearts of many who have gathered here today. I say to his grandchildren that you should remember today. It is no small thing to have your grandfather remembered in the national Parliament. You should be proud of that and proud of his legacy.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As a friend of Noel Treacy for a long number of years I am honoured to have the opportunity to say a few words on behalf of the regional group. Deputy Grealish will also say a few words. What I am going to say is a personal approach. We know his record here and we know all of his achievements. We know of all the elections he has fought. Mary his wife walked through every occasion beside him. I am delighted to see Mary here with their family. It is a great to see you here.

If one was to describe Noel, one would describe him as bright, positive, full of energy, and somebody who was kind, charitable and had a great way of dealing with everybody.

He had no political foes. Everybody was his friend. His handshake was very strong. Even when meeting him for the first time, the handshake meant you knew you were meeting a friend. I remember when I was a member of Fianna Fáil that he would come to meetings. The way he used to speak made sure everyone in the room felt proud to be in that organisation. Regarding his winning of elections, and coming from the same constituency, I know it is not easy to win elections. Noel was proud, however, that he won a by-election and was able to retain his seat thereafter. He was also proud to be able to work in government in so many different Departments. This was not, though, something he talked or boasted about. It was part of his job.

He has left a legacy. It is fitting we are talking about him today. He was chairman of the county board for five years. During that time, he put in place many things that stand to us now. It is ironic that this week we are announcing we are building a new stand in Tuam stadium. I know he would be very proud of this development. I thought of him during the week when we were making the announcement that this was happening. I say this because he was there and he ensured Tuam was kept on the map in GAA circles.

I know his family is proud of him, but they should also remember that the legacy he has left to the country is unbelievable. This is not something highlighted on pedestals or pillars, but it was Noel who did all this. He helped everybody to have a better life. As a Galwegian and a Deputy for Galway East, I am proud to be following in his footsteps. Hopefully, I will be able to do a small percentage of what he did throughout his life for people. I am delighted to see all his family here. Everything said about Noel today is well deserved. In a way, it is inadequate because of the man he was. May his soul rest in peace.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle agus leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle, agus leis an Teach, as an deis seo. Cuirim fáilte roimh mhuintir Uí Threasaigh, Cloonan agus Byrne agus cairde Noel. It is not normal to travel from Ballina to Tuam via Glenamaddy, but that is what we did on 11 July 1982 as a family. We were due to go to the Galway-Mayo match that day, but my father had to go to Glenamaddy to canvass for someone called Noel Treacy, who was our candidate in the by-election then. He knew Noel through school in Garbally and the GAA. That was the first time I met Noel Treacy, on a very sunny day in Glenamaddy. As others said, he went on to win the by-election on the first count as a Deputy representing the Government. It was unheard of then and for 30 years later for a candidate from a Government party to win a by-election. Equally, very few by-elections are won on the first count. This was a sign of respect for the integrity, energy and decency he brought to Dáil Éireann and to life for every day he was a Member of his House and a Minister of State in the subsequent nearly 30 years.

He brought these qualities to so many portfolios throughout 17 years as a Minister of State in nine Departments. He left an extensive legacy in this context. I will focus on some of his achievements. I have the opportunity now of continuing his work and I refer in particular to the reform of the motor insurance industry. Through his work, dedication and passion in setting up the personal injuries assessment board, PIAB, he reduced insurance premiums for so many people, and especially younger drivers. As the Minister of State with special responsibility for European affairs, he was very much involved in the accession of so many new countries to the EU.

As others have said as well, our digital economy and opportunities in this regard owe their foundations to the work of Noel Treacy and to his ambition and faith in a science that he possibly did not really know. Very few of us knew in the 1990s what the digital economy would be today, but Noel Treacy bought into it and through his energy and ambition he rolled out things such as Science Week and various innovations we take for granted today. He also travelled extensively to promote Ireland across the world. Last week, I had the privilege of standing in a factory just outside Warsaw that he had opened in 2004 for his great friend, John Concannon, of the JFC Group. This gives us a sense of Noel's internationalism and his ambition that Irish business could be so much a part of the Irish story. Noel Treacy did that.

He left here in 2011, but he never forgot us. He was so proud of this House, of what it stood for and of being a Member of it, but he never got carried away by this. He always respected others and other voices and the traditions of this House. He also, however, in a lesson to us all, never allowed a busy life to get in the way of friendship. He never allowed his responsibilities and their burden to get in the way of travelling to support friends in dark days. In the dark days of his own illness, he never allowed the challenges in that regard to stop him being an active citizen. I remember him coming to the funeral of my father. He left treatment to come to it and then went back to that treatment. This was his dedication to friends and to kin. That was Noel Treacy personified.

He would be so proud of his grandchildren in the way they performed and were able to say prayers at his funeral. They are here with us today and we had a chance to meet them earlier. He would also be so proud of Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory. I know he was very proud too of his two sisters who are here with us, Marian and Nóirín, who kept him in check, and of his brother-in-law, John Byrne. Today is about the wider Treacy and Cloonan family. Today is the day they can see the pride we had in and respect we had for Noel. It will be a difficult day, but they should embrace it.

The sun is shining on us today. That is Noel Treacy smiling down here. The hand is coming out and we are all being told we are mighty. That is his pride for this House and this tribute. He never got carried away by it either. He will drive us on to continue the work. May this sun keep shining, and may it shine in particular on Mary. For Noel, she was the boss. She was the one person whom he absolutely adored and treasured. She was the person and the scaffolding who allowed him to achieve so much. To Mary, then, and to all the family, our thoughts and sympathies are with them, but we are also bursting with pride today for them all to have this legacy to mark.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge Noel's family who are here with us. We have Mary, Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory, along with his most wonderful grandchildren and his sisters Marian and Nóirín. Like Deputy Canney, I am going to take a bit of a different tack. I am in politics because of Noel Treacy. He was the man who came into a house in Abbeyknockmoy and opened his book and said, "If you are really interested in politics, Ms Rabbitte, I will help you". At that stage, Noel had stepped away from the party but he was deeply involved in our local elections. That was his sense of community, in respect of ensuring that we as a party would continue. He wanted to see the diversity of inclusion of female members in the party and he was there to assist me at the very beginning of my career. For that, I am very grateful. I would say that sometimes I give awful trouble to the boss, but he must realise it was Noel Treacy who paved the road to allow me to be here.

I mentioned Noel's passion for his community, the people of Ballymacward and his local club, and his setting up a St. Kerrill's football club. I refer as well to his work for the county and what he did from 2011 to 2016. He went back to his people to ensure the development of Galway County Board and of hurling, football and everything else. As a young child growing up, I would have known very little about politics, other than we had a most wonderful castle in Portumna. Noel was then the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW. At that stage, our castle in Portumna was in a very neglected state until he got involved and sourced funding for us. He put the castle in Portumna on the map. Every time this is spoken about, it is recalled that the funding was received because of Noel's involvement.

I remember when my father laid the chimneys on the castle. We talked about how that came about and it was Treacy who got the money. There was always such a great sense of celebration that Noel had taken such an interest in Portumna, which is quite a distance from the Ballymacward side of things. He had, though, put us on the map. From that day to this, we have flourished. He put Portumna and the castle on the map. He gave us a destination and a centre to be very proud of. This is to speak about only our little patch, but this is what he did right across east Galway. It was not just east Galway, though, that he helped. He went wherever it was the right thing to do. This is what the Tánaiste spoke about in his speech.

It was the right thing to do. We talk about science and innovation. Galway has expanded in the med tech sector because of that belief and investment at the very beginning. As I see it, Noel Treacy was a political giant with an equal generosity of spirit and dedication for the people of Galway. For that I am very grateful to be here as a Galway East Deputy following in his footsteps. I will never surpass them. If I can achieve even a piece of the work he did and bring about some of the results with the commitment and dedication of the contract the Ceann Comhairle talked about, I will be a happy representative. Thank you, Mary, for being here today.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Those of us who live in east Galway know what a very special place it is. It is a place which exhibits the very best of rural Ireland and where community really matters. We do not reminisce about the spirit of the meitheal; we experience and live the meitheal every day of our lives. Noel Treacy embodied that spirit and worked throughout his career to protect and nurture it.

Noel was born in the village of Clough, across the fields from my mother's family. In fact, from speaking recently to my Aunt Breeda, I learned that Noel was a distant relative of mine. His great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather were brothers. Like many others who entered the profession of politics, Noel did so with the intention of making life better for the people he served. He immediately earned the trust of his people and retained that trust throughout his whole life, to which people have already referred, holding that seat election after election all the way up to his retirement in 2011.

One element of Noel's very large body of policy work that I want to focus on today is that of science and technology. Noel Treacy was a genuine visionary and knew where the future of this country lay long before most others. I have been privileged to work over the past decade with Bernard Kirk of the Camden Education Trust and formerly of the Galway Education Centre. From long conversations with him, I have learned of Noel Treacy's deeply impactful work in the area of science and technology in founding the Galway science and technology festival. He told me that in 1998, Noel assembled 25 people in a room in GMIT and asked, "How many people here think it is a great idea to have a Galway science and technology festival?" As you might expect, nobody put their hand up to disagree. Noel insisted on using the word "technology" in the festival title. Some 25 years later, we now know how prescient his ambitions for Galway and Ireland were.

Ireland has become one of the predominant technological hubs of the planet and we stand on the shoulders of people like Noel Treacy who laid the groundwork for our success. Noel and Bernard went on to organise the incredibly successful European Union Science Olympiad in 2005, again in Galway, welcoming teachers and students from across the whole of Europe. Speaking to a reporter at the event, Noel said, "Bringing all of us together gives a clear message that Ireland is Europe, Europe is Ireland. Our futures are intertwined". How right he was.

Incidentally, Bernard had a particularly interesting recollection about organising a tour for the people who were attending that Olympiad. Noel said that Connemara was nice but asked if they could not bring people to Portumna and then to Ballinasloe, the Turoe stone in Bullaun and the wonderful medieval town of Athenry. We can all guess which direction the buses headed on that day. No matter where Noel found himself in the world, ably representing us wherever he went, he always found his way home to his beloved Gurteen, and there he rests today.

To all of those who had the good fortune to meet and be at the end of that heartfelt handshake, he leaves many memories. To many people in this building, he was Minister Noel Treacy, winner of elections and trusted friend. I am sure that when he returned to Gurteen he became an even more special person. Noel, the soulmate, the giver of love, the giver of security, dad and grandad. To Mary and her precious family, can I express my deepest sympathy to you on your loss and maybe offer some words of comfort from Kahlil Gibran. These are words I often resort to when I think of my own dad, who has also passed:

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you will see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

May Noel rest in peace and may his memory remain in our work here and in the hearts of those who were fortunate to encounter him during a life well lived.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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It is a great honour and privilege for me to have this opportunity to say a few words this afternoon about the late, great Noel Treacy. It was an honour and a privilege to serve with him in this House. I had great admiration and respect for Noel. I always worked very well with him and it was an honour to be able to call him a friend. Noel was a remarkable person, with a real gift for remembering people's names. It was a useful talent for someone in politics; I wish I had it. All he had to do was walk into a room, take a quick look around and when he stood up to speak, he would be able to name nearly everybody in that room. He had a real gift.

Noel gave great service to the State as a county councillor and then as a Deputy for Galway East for almost three decades. During his time in the Dáil, he had a long and distinguished career serving as a Minister for State in nine different Departments, having first being appointed as a Minister for State in the Department of Finance in 1985. He was also, as the Tánaiste said, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Noel had another great love, the GAA. It was a great honour for him to be elected chairman of Galway county board, a position he held for five years. I remember one Friday night, when I was chairman of the Carnmore hurling club, the convention was on the following Monday and I was a bit disappointed Noel had not canvassed me. I was back in the local bar having a pint with Malachy Hanley, who was the delegate to the county board, when at 11.10 p.m., I got a phone call from Noel to ask me where I was. I told him I was out having a pint. He asked me where and I told him I was in Grealish's bar - he hung up. That was it. Ten minutes later, he came in the door. He was still out canvassing at 11.20 p.m. on a Friday night, for the position as chairman of the county board. I remember he gave a great speech at the convention. It was a long speech, but it was great. He covered every issue of concern within the GAA in County Galway. That is why he was elected. He served five great years as chairman of the county board and he was an excellent member of the Connacht council.

I offer my condolences to his wife, Mary; his children, Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory; his sisters, Marian and Nóirín Byrne; his beloved grandchildren, some of whom are here today, and his extended family. He was a great and popular man who was liked by everyone.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Noel, a great friend and mentor, and by proxy, to pass on the tributes of his very old friend, Ray MacSharry, who directed that campaign back in 1982. He would want me to say Noel Treacy was the finest politician he ever worked with in his political career. They served during Noel's first post as a Minister of State in 1987, when they were in the same Department. While it is not unique that Ministers of State and Ministers get on well together, it is quite rare. I know many people Noel worked with were proud to work with him and impressed by his incredible ability and vision, which have been alluded to by others.

Of course, I was trying to think of any unusual things that happened during our time here. Lightning struck the Government jet once as Noel was approaching Belfast during the peace process. It made the media at the time. He was that kind of unique individual. They say lightning never strikes twice, but it certainly gave us the great Noel Treacy.

Everybody has alluded to his uncanny ability to know the name of everybody in the room; he was singularly the best person I ever saw. On the very rare occasion he did not know somebody in the room, he would question them and within three or four answers, he would have been able to deduce that the person was so-and-so's first cousin's butcher's dog who might have voted Fianna Fáil in the 1967 local elections, such was his ability to trace everybody. He made everybody feel special, no matter whether it was at a cumann meeting at the top of Donegal or the bottom of Cork. People might have met him at the Ard-Fheis for a split second but he would be able to say, "Hello, Mary. How are you? How are John and the children? How did the cattle go this year?" He was phenomenal.

In an era in politics when, sadly, so many of us are blindly consumed with personal advancement, Noel was representative of the honourable profession of politics, where people always come first. He regularly told me, in the ten odd years I was in the Seanad when he was still here, that when he was taking a decision in any Department or in life, he would wonder how it would affect the small farmer, his neighbours and the people in the terraces in Athenry or Ballinasloe. That is missing from these Houses now and it is awful. Noel Treacy epitomised public service and our being here to serve, not to advance.

If he was here, he would know everybody's name. Very special people, including Joan, Emer, Lisa, watching from the south of France, Rory, Marian, John Byrne, and Nóirín are here today. If the roles were swapped, he would want us to talk about baby Jack, who is on his own little tour around the House with Maria, Ciarán, Saoirse, Dáithí and Juliet, because if Noel was here, he would say, "We love the great people of Gurteen", as he often said in every part of Ireland. While colleagues and those in his own constituency have said they aspire to walk in Noel's footsteps - all of us would like to walk, or like to think we can walk, in Noel's footsteps - the truth is nobody will ever fill his shoes. I am sure his colleagues in the constituency will not mind me saying that.

He was a great friend and colleague. The friendship of Ray and my late mother, Elaine, with Mary and Noel, goes back to the beginning. I was trying to think of a sentence that could capture Noel and for me, it is, "Noel Treacy: all graces and no airs".

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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It may surprise some colleagues and even the family that a Dublin Deputy would want to make a contribution. I never served with Noel Treacy in this House, but I served in three Governments, working for a Minister, in which Noel Treacy served. They were heady electoral days for my party, Fianna Fáil. Noel was considered part of the country and western element of the party, along with the famous Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Pat The Cope Gallagher, Brian Cowen and Albert Reynolds. One of the remarkable things about him was that he was appointed by Albert Reynolds, but also by Bertie Ahern. It says a lot about the personality of the man.

The reason I wished to make a very brief contribution today is that I worked for a former Minister of State, Tom Kitt, in another Department, first as his assistant and then as his adviser. There were days when Fianna Fáil enjoyed substantial wins in elections that delivered a multiplicity of seats in a number of constituencies. There were legendary rivalries because Fianna Fáil candidates held two seats out of four, or three seats out of five. So legendary were some of those rivalries, some of which were infamous, that there were colleagues who were barely on speaking terms. The point I wish to make was about the great affection in which Noel Treacy was held by the Kitt family and the great affection in which the Kitt family was held by Noel Treacy. It always struck me forcibly, aside from the great encouragement he gave me when we would meet on the corridors.

It was something that always struck me very forcefully, aside from the great encouragement he gave me when we met on the corridors. If I may be so bold, I will conclude by quoting the poet Longfellow because it seems apt given everything that has been said about Noel:

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.