Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I join with the Leader of the House in expressing, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party in Seanad Éireann, our sympathies to the family of the late Luke Belton. Senator Ulick Burke is the only Fine Gael Senator who served with Senator Belton in the early to mid-1980s. Senator Ross and Senator Ryan also served with him, as may have Senator O'Rourke. I did not know him but met him around the Houses in recent years. It was nice that he continued to visit the House every so often and go into the bar to chat to people. As the Leader said, he was from a distinguished political family who have given tremendous public service to the people of this country over many years.

Over dinner last night I was speaking to a colleague who remembered Luke Belton well. I was told that when he first left Longford to come to Dublin to work in one of his uncle's pubs, he used to cycle from Longford to Dublin and back, though not all in the one day. He probably did not have the traffic difficulties he would have now.

A fact of which most are not aware is that he was the first Longford-born politician to represent a constituency outside Longford — Senator Bannon should take note — which is a distinguished example of how people in another part of the country, most notably in Dublin, took to him and regarded him, although he was not one of their own. He came to work in Dublin and was a very successful publican. With his brother, Paddy Belton, he managed to acquire an impressive number of pubs on the northside of Dublin over many years.

As the Leader said, he will be remembered as one who, with the Belton family, gave long public service to the country. His cousin, Avril Doyle MEP, is well known to us, as is a former colleague in this House and the other House, Louis Belton, who was Deputy for the Longford constituency.

We pass on our sympathy to his wife, Lil, his sons, John, Michael and Luke, and his daughter, Mary. This House and the Fine Gael Party understands and recognises the long service he gave to the Irish people, most notably the people of north Dublin, for over 20 years as a Member of the Seanad and Dáil. We will cherish that memory and it is right and proper that today we mark that memory and his great contribution to Irish politics.