Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Labour Party group and as Deputy Leader of Seanad Éireann, I am honoured to pay tribute to former Senator, Eamon de Buitléar. I echo the words and very eloquent tributes paid to him following his death earlier this year. I offer sympathies to his wife and five children.

As others have said, Eamon de Buitléar was best known as a famous wildlife documentary maker. His series "Amuigh Faoin Spéir", "A Life in the Wild" and other television documentaries were extremely important in Irish society at the time. He presented Ireland's first wildlife series. Now it is hard to imagine that there was not a well developed series of wildlife documentaries in place at the time.

Eamon was nominated in 1987 to Seanad Éireann by the then Taoiseach, as others have said, in acknowledgement of his important work in bringing information and knowledge on nature and wildlife to an Irish population who previously never had access to same, in an Irish context. President Michael D. Higgins paid tribute to Eamon earlier this year by saying "He will be remembered as an outstanding broadcaster in both languages". Eamon's documentaries were made in English and Irish for the BBC, ITV and RTE so his work was truly international and bilingual.

Senator Cummins noted that Eamon donated his archive of bilingual film and paper material to NUI Galway. The university had a great launch to celebrate the occasion and was very proud to take possession of such an important archive. It shall keep the material in trust for the nation.

Eamon de Buitléar was a committed environmentalist. Other tributes described him as a public intellectual in the best sense. He was also a man of many parts whose love of Irish music has been eloquently spoken about. He had a long association with Seán Ó Riada. Eamon's best known legacy will be his wildlife documentary series and the books he published, his collaborations with the likes of Gerrit van Gelderen, and the fact that he brought wildlife into the homes of generations of Irish people, particularly those who remember his work as children and as adults.

Finally, I offer my sympathies to his wife, children, extended family and friends.