John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join with my colleagues in expressing sympathy to Peggy, Róisín, Michael, David and the extended family. I got to know Joe pretty well over the years. As Senator Cummins mentioned, he was a lifelong great political friend of my neighbour and political mentor, Dick Dowling. They shared many interests, as well as sharing an office, for a long time. On my first day as a Senator after the 2002 Seanad election, the House was recalled early to pass the legislation to hold the referendum for the first Nice treaty. I was given a slot to speak at approximately 4 p.m., and as a result I missed my conferring ceremony in Waterford Institute of Technology, WIT. I drove down late and my family gave out to me for missing the entire ceremony. However, the institute allowed me to return to be conferred either the next day or the next week. While I did not know anyone else who was graduating, Jill and Peggy were present at the back of the room as their daughter was receiving her qualification from WIT on the same day. It is rather ironic that Members are paying tribute to Joe on the same day because although I have not pursued any studies in the meantime until recently, I am going to be awarded something today.

Joe is fondly remembered and the staff of Leinster House still have a great regard for Joe Doyle. Many of the secretarial staff within Fine Gael worked with Joe over the years and I spoke to a couple of them this morning over a cup of tea. They knew this tribute was planned and spoke with great fondness of the little events organised by Joe, Dick Dowling, Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, Bernard Durkan and Professor John Kelly. They were the first group of Oireachtas Members who took it upon themselves to bring their secretaries out to thank them for the efforts they put in on their behalf. Moreover, most of these secretaries are still here and they hold him in great affection. I remember the last time I met Joe was at the front door of Leinster House a few years ago. We had a discussion about his time in politics and how he was so delighted to end his political career in Leinster House as spokesperson on finance. He gave me a few tips because it was the position that I held at that particular juncture.

Senator Alex White mentioned the 1989 election in his contribution and I always will remember how Joe and Garret pulled off the great coup in Dublin South-East. I believe it was Joe who subsequently said it was the closest Garret had ever come in his political career to committing a sin, when he took such a relish in the defeat of the former leader of the Progressive Democrats in that election.

Joe was the quintessential Fine Gaeler. He represented a strain of Fine Gael in which I believe passionately. His legacy will remain strong in the party for many years. I extend to Peggy and her family my sincere sympathy on their sad loss.