David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am both honoured and saddened to have the privilege of saying a few words in the presence of Tom Fitzgerald's family. Fitzgerald is a very distinguished name in that part of the country, as there is the Knight of Kerry, the White Knight and the Knight of Glin and in that illustrious panoply, Tom Fitzgerald added a great lustre. He had various passions, of which the language was one and the marina another. He was a man of vision who managed to bring that vision to pass. He was in this House when I was first elected because although he was elected repeatedly, there were gaps in his career when the turbulence of political life meant he was not a Member of this House. However, he was a Member in my very first term and as I told Tom a number of times, I heard him speak on my very first day. I did not know much about what the Senate was about and he made the most magnificent speech on a fisheries Bill. I approached him afterwards and told him his speech was absolutely fascinating, was one of the best I had ever heard and that, having heard his words, I was proud to be part of this Senate. His reply was to ask why would he not, as he had a trawler. However, it was of great importance that the House had such people who came from the coalface and who knew exactly what were the problems. Moreover, had people like Tom Fitzgerald or indeed the Leas-Chathaoirleach been listened to, we might be in a much better position now with regard to the fishing industry, which we betrayed and gave away at the time of Ireland's entry into the European Union.

However, I am glad to state I became a friend of Tom and always enjoyed a chat with him. He was one of the great storytellers and that may have something to do with the air, the minerals, the grass, the milk or the whiskey down in County Kerry. Other examples are Joe O'Toole - it is a pity he is not present because he was a great friend of Tom Fitzgerald and also is from Dingle - Senator Ned O'Sullivan, another great Kerry man, and Senator Paul Coghlan himself, who is a man who both tells and enjoys a great story.

There was always a great twinkle in Tom's eye and there never was anything nasty about Tom Fitzgerald. One of his greatest qualities was loyalty and I am glad his friendship with Mr. Haughey has been mentioned very courteously by Senator Cummins. He shared a friendship with Mr. Haughey that was based in part on a love of the sea and in part on an appreciation of the natural beauty of County Kerry, in particular, of Inishvickillane and so on. Unlike some others, however, when Mr. Haughey's career hit a patch of turbulence - and believe me, I had my two days with the same Mr. Haughey - he never turned against him. He never spoke a bitter or derogatory word and I greatly admired that about him because such loyalty and friendship is an admirable thing. Not so many people retained that kind of loyalty, another being another good friend of mine, Anthony Cronin.

It is difficult to believe we will not be in that genial presence any more and public life is greatly diminished by the death of our friend, Tom Fitzgerald. I believe he was a friend of everyone in this House and I extend my sympathy to his family, a family of which he was very proud and whose company he enjoyed thoroughly. While he enjoyed it here, he enjoyed even more going back home to Kerry, which was his real home.