John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I join with the Leader of the House and the leaders of the other groups in paying a well-deserved tribute to the late Tom Fitzpatrick. It is notable that he had a very distinguished academic career as a young man and obviously would have been very successful if he had decided to continue in that career exclusively. However, he made the decision to go into politics, a decision about which the country has every reason to be glad. It is obvious he had a very long career in public service and that service was, as has been stated, in the best sense of the word. It is unfortunate nowadays that we are so overcome by cynicism that the idea of public service does not seem to be valued, but is important and he was certainly a model in that respect.

It is notable that he put principle before expediency. In 1987, he could have continued as Ceann Comhairle, had he decided to cross the floor so to speak — although the Ceann Comhairle does not do that, as we all know. Nevertheless having been in the Chair, it would have been very tempting for him to continue. That he did not do so is a tribute to the fact that he had certain basic principles that he held to be very strong and valuable, and that he stuck by those principles. For those and for many other reasons, it is appropriate that we remember him. The best tribute that can be paid to anybody in my part of the country is to say that he was a decent man. Tom Fitzpatrick was a decent man and a gentleman as everybody who ever came in contact with him knew.

Senator Ryan spoke about respect. He was definitely held in very high respect, which was a respect of affection and not of fear or intimidation. I am pleased to join others in expressing our sympathy to his wife, extended family and colleagues in Fine Gael.