Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

I, too, offer my condolences to Patrick and John, Sheila and family, and all of Peter's friends not only from Inishannon but from across west Cork and the rest of the country. For a youngish Fine Gaeler, I would have described Peter as old-style Fianna Fáil. He was decent, very fair and always good company from the first day I met him in the House. His family is well aware that I would have known a great deal about Peter on my election to the House. My mum had great regard for him. Peter grew up in Kilkern in Castlefreke. Sheila grew up in Galley Head. The light from the same lighthouse shone into my bedroom when I was growing up in west Cork all those years ago. Therefore, we know more than enough, as the saying goes, about Peter and his family. He was a really decent individual, for whom my family had great respect.

There were only a few years in age between Peter and my late father and they grew up only a few miles apart. Many of the characteristics and personal traits to be found in Peter were also to be found in my dad. During the few years I knew Peter in the House I found him to be great company. He was a solid individual who had a wicked sense of humour. Certainly politics never got in the way of personal friendships that he developed during the yeas. He will be sorely missed in the House.

Peter was very amused when I told him the oldest piece of political memorabilia I had was an election poster dating from 1981 with a picture of Charlie Haughey on the front and Joe Walsh and Peter Callanan, MCC, as the names of the candidates running in the election. His response was: "What went wrong with me after that?" I was given the poster by a member of my mum's family who, as everybody knows, were very strong supporters of Peter Callanan, Joe Walsh and Fianna Fáil in west Cork.

I miss Peter. He was a great guy. He is missed by Members on both sides of the House of every political persuasion. I offer my condolences to all members of his family. I know they have suffered a huge loss.