Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

On behalf of my colleagues in Fine Gael, I express our sympathy to the family of Pól Ó Foighil on their terrible loss. I feel quite inadequate because I cannot address my remarks to the House as Gaeilge. Every time former Senator Ó Foighil spoke to the House, he did so in Irish, the language he loved. He was one of those colourful characters we all meet going around the country. I remember going to conferences, on the Seanad trail in particular, at which I met Mr. Ó Foighil. Regardless of whether I asked him for advice, I received it from him. Usually it was well worth listening to. Mr. Ó Foighil was very encouraging, particularly of younger members of our party, in terms of persevering and doing one's best in politics.

Mr. Ó Foighil was brought into Fine Gael by Tom O'Donnell, who was Minister for the Gaeltacht between 1973 and 1977. Down through the years, Mr. Ó Foighil had what might be described as a truculent relationship with the party. Sometimes he was in and sometimes he was out, but more often than not he was right and we were wrong. He stated anyone who has a mind is entitled to change that mind. I believe that was one reason constituting his defence when, for some reason or other, he was being expelled from the parliamentary party. He definitely took his stances very seriously and independently. He was able to say awkward things to the party from time to time.

One of Mr. Ó Foighil's greatest and lasting achievements was the introduction of simultaneous translation into Irish in the House. I understand that as a Member of the House from 1989 to 1992, he initiated a campaign to secure the automatic right for all Members to hear debates through Irish. He was a Tipperary man, although as the Leader noted, he moved to Connemara in the 1950s. As she rightly observed, he did much community work in the west, particularly in and around Connemara, in establishing co-operatives and Irish colleges which were attended in the summer months by many jackeens, myself included. It is ironic that we pay tribute to him in the middle of an Údarás election campaign as he was a long-standing member of Údarás na Gaeltachta as well as of Galway County Council.

My great memory of Pól Ó Foighil is a programme I saw on TG4 some years ago, where he courageously described the tragedy of suicide. His own son was a suicide victim. He had been a medical student and a bright person with great opportunities for the future. Pól Ó Foighil had seven children and it greatly affected him. In the programme, Senator Ó Foighil decided to tell his story and describe the implications for himself and his family in a very public way. He did a great service to the thousands of people throughout the country affected by suicide. I distinctly remember watching the programme and admiring his ability to speak out in public about this terrible problem affecting so many people.

We offer our sympathy to his wife Chrissie and to his six surviving children. We thank him for his work, not only as a Fine Gael parliamentarian, but as a politician of real conviction and standing. The country and Connemara in particular is at a loss on hearing of his death. His memory will live on in this House for many years to come.