Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I would like to be associated with the tributes to the late Seán Keegan, who was a member of this House from 1970 to 1977. Seán served the people of Westmeath at local and national level and made a major contribution to political life as a member of the Midland Health Board, councillor, Senator and Deputy. I knew Seán best as a member of the Midland Health Board, where he was a loyal colleague. He was on the farm advisory committee of the board, with responsibility for two large farms in Mullingar and Portlaoise. He ensured both were profit-making enterprises at a time when profits were very important to the finances of the board and for some of the patients in the care of the board's institutions.

He will be sadly missed by all his colleagues in the Oireachtas and especially by the people of Westmeath whom he represented so loyally for so many years. Seán was also a lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.

I extend my sincere sympathy to his wife, Mary, sons, Tom and Gearóid, daughters, Maria, Nan and Nuala, as well as to his extended family on their sad loss.