Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome Marianne and her family here today who were in the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, who was here earlier and is a close family friend, and Deputies Calleary and O'Mahony.

I wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Myles Staunton who served in the Dáil from 1973 to 1977 and in the 14th Seanad, 15th Seanad and 19th Seanad, from 1977 to 1982 and 1989 to 1992. Although his time in Leinster House preceded my election to the House, as a fellow Mayo person I knew him very well for a long time during his career as a councillor, a national politician and as a businessman. Quite a few references were made to the 1973 general election and I remember it quite well. I was at the convention in Breaffy House where he was adamant that only two candidates should run in the then three seater West Mayo constituency. His assessment was proved right and resulted in a change of government.

Myles was very well travelled and was always going to or coming from some place, and I do not mean Westport or Castlebar. He was a politician for the people and always sought to benefit his community but he had his eye firmly placed on larger projects and the bigger picture. He was basically responsible for bringing Allergan to Westport which is now an important pharmaceutical industry in the region and the country. He was a politician and a businessman but first and foremost he was an extraordinary salesperson and could sell any project. He could have sold sand to the Arabs. He was involved in seaweed manufacturing, egg production, peat briquettes and national peat power generation. The larger the project the more enthusiastic he became and sold people his ideas. He was a great European and it was a shame that he was narrowly beaten when he stood for election to the European Parliament in 1979 for the Connacht constituency. He would have excelled in Europe had he been successful.

In all of my dealings with the late Myles Staunton, a former Senator and Deputy, both in a private capacity and politically, he was very honourable and genuine. He was an absolute gentleman whenever one dealt with him. As has been said here already, he was quite a character who had a great sense of humour and was very entertaining and witty. His political experiences were widely respected. During his time in the Oireachtas he made many friends in the Houses. His contributions here were always concise, to the point and were common sense. His political experience was also recognised internationally as he acted as procedural adviser to several parliaments over the duration of his political career. My late father also served with him on Mayo County Council so I have had many associations with Myles Staunton over a long period. I extend my sympathy to Marianne, Aoife, Myles, Hugh, Ruth and Elizabeth and the extended Staunton family. His family is very welcome to the Seanad today but it is unfortunate that their visit is due to his death. I was quite shocked when I heard he had died because I had met him just a couple of days previously. Again, I would like to be associated with the votes of sympathy expressed in the House today.