Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

On behalf of my colleagues on this side of the House, I join the Leader in expressing our sincere sympathy to the family of the late Senator and Deputy, Tom Fitzpatrick. I met Tom on a number of occasions and am well acquainted with his son Tom junior, who was in college with my wife in UCD and who has established a successful career at the Bar following the legal traditions of his father. It was with terrible sadness we learned of his passing after such a great life and commitment to politics over many decades.

As the Leader said, Tom Fitzpatrick served in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He served not only in this House but also served in the Dáil for in excess of 25 years. He held three ministerial portfolios during his career. He was Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Minister for Transport and Power and Minister for Lands. When he became Ceann Comhairle in November 1982, after the three bizarre elections in such a short period of time, he was eminently suited to the position. I do not know of anyone else at the time who could have identified him or herself as suited to that position. Tom was wise, he came from a legal background and had an understanding of law. He was also experienced and, most important, was respected on all sides. He was eminently suitable for the position of Ceann Comhairle of the other House.

As the Leader said, he suffered much tragedy in his life, including the death in 1951 of his first wife and the death of his daughter. In the past 15 years he had to bear that terrible illness which afflicts so many people but which he bore with such dignity and style. He was a regular visitor to the House in recent years. He would have a drink with colleagues in the Members' bar and do his best to remember people even though he found this difficult. He enjoyed coming back to the House, meeting people and keeping connected with what was going on in this place.

Tom Fitzpatrick was also a huge figure in Fine Gael, not just in the Cavan-Monaghan area. At one stage he also represented part of County Meath. He was a bridge between the modernists and the traditionalists within our party and was utterly respected on all sides of the divide within Fine Gael throughout that very radical period for the party in the 1960s and 1970s. The former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald regularly required his advice and mentoring because he was a person who was utterly respected by all in the party and was well regarded.

We remember today his wife, Carmel, his daughter, Geraldine, and his son, Tom. We thank them for allowing him to give so much of his life to public service. Someone said to me that if ever there was a county solicitor who cared for all the people all the time, did not fleece them and was more than happy to give them his advice, it was Tom Fitzpatrick. One wishes this were true of every solicitor today.