Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

It was with great sadness that members of my party learned of Mr. Bernard Markey's death over the summer, not only because of his contribution to politics in the Fine Gael Party and in County Louth but also because he died, at a relatively young age, in his early 60s. We join other colleagues in expressing our sympathy to his wife, Anne, his daughter, Tara, and the extended Markey family on his untimely passing.

Bernard Markey was a liberal politician long before it became fashionable. He took a stand on difficult issues in the 1970s and 1980s. I have great sympathy for the politicians who fought three general elections in the early 1980s – I think the Leader was one of them.