Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I join with other speakers in paying tribute to the late John Francis Conlan. I knew him fairly well and always found him to be a very honourable, decent, quiet, unassuming and private man, which is unusual for a politician and even more so for a publican. He cherished his private moments with his wife, son and daughter. As previous speakers have stated, his political career began in 1950 when he was elected to Ballybay Town Commissioners. He was first elected to Monaghan County Council in 1955 and returned in each subsequent county council election until his retirement in 1999. His colleagues on Monaghan County Council paid him the ultimate honour any local public representative can receive; he became chairman of the county council before he retired in 1999, which was a lifetime ambition of his.

He served as a Member of this House between 1965 and 1969 when he was elected as a Dáil Deputy for the constituency of Monaghan, which he served with distinction between then and 1977 when he was fortunate to add County Cavan to the constituency, which he also served with distinction. As Senator O'Brien already stated, he received as many Fianna Fáil votes as he did Fine Gael votes. It was ironic that when he lost the seat in 1987, he received his third highest first preference vote in seven elections.

I join with other Senators in paying tribute to a fellow public representative, the late great John Francis Conlan, and I express my sincere sympathy to his wife, son and daughter and the Fine Gael Party in County Monaghan. May he rest in peace.