Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy and tributes to the late Michael O'Higgins. He was a man of great integrity and an unassuming person with firm and consistent political views. Like many other politicians of his time, his political outlook was strongly influenced by the faith and philosophy of Christianity. Reference has been made to the fact that Michael and his family have served this country well, from the time of his late uncle, KevinO'Higgins in 1927, up to the present. I hope that Michael's passing is only a break in the representation at national level which, hopefully, the family will provide again.

Michael O'Higgins served on Dublin Corporation for ten years. He served both in Dáil Éireann and in Seanad Éireann. Three members of the family have represented Dáil constituencies. His wife, Brigid, represented western constituencies. The family have, therefore, represented a greater part of Ireland over the years than any other political dynasty.

Michael retired to live in the west of Ireland. As Senator Dardis said, Michael would have been seen over the years on the river or at the lakeside, enjoying his pastimes of shooting and fishing. During his time as Leader of this House one of his colleagues said in 1973 that MichaelO'Higgins would have thought it sufficient to give his electorate its reward through dedicated parliamentary service. That is the essence of Michael and his life as a politician. Those were different times. He believed his dedicated representation and his commitment to politics would have been sufficient to represent them.

He made many and varied contributions to debates in this House. One contribution made on 3 July 1974 is appropriate in the current climate. It was on a motion on the situation in Northern Ireland during which Michael said:

Everyone would accept that if coincidental with the setting up of the Executive in the North there had been a cessation of violence, there would not be any shadow or question of doubt about the success of the Executive and that we would have known in a comparatively short time, within six months of the setting up of the Executive, that we could all feel, North and South of the Border, that the direction of this country, North and South, was set on a path where there would be a spirit of co-operation, or partnership and above all a degree of peace in this country that we have not seen for some time. I do not say it was the only cause of the failure but I think an important cause of the failure was the fact that the violence continued and that that degree of support which it was necessary for all to give on the setting up of the Executive was withheld by those who indulged in violence.

It is significant that the parallel between then and now still exists. I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Brigid, to his daughters, Maeve, Irene, Hilary and Deirdre and to his sons, Michael, Mark, Brian and Cahir.