Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad it is an honour to say a few words about Tom. As Bridie, Michelle, Breandán, Tommy and the rest of the family will be aware, Tom's reputation spread far beyond the Dingle Peninsula and County Kerry. He was very well known in north County Dublin, where I live, and in the Malahide-Kinsealy area because of Mr. Haughey, who I had the pleasure of meeting. I see a good friend of mine, Siobhan O'Connor, in the Gallery, along with the O'Connor and Haughey families, who travelled to Kerry on a regular basis. I never served in this House with Tom but, from the heartfelt and personal tributes that have been paid by Members across the House, Bridie and her children will be aware of the esteem in which their late husband and father was held. I hope these tributes will go some way towards softening the loss they are feeling.

Tom was a loyal servant of Fianna Fáil and a proud representative of County Kerry both in the county council and during the 13 years he served in the Seanad. I am sure all of us would like to be flies on the wall in Heaven while he and Mr. Haughey discuss various events. This is a sad day but also a proud one for his family given the high esteem in which he was held by his colleagues on all sides of this House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.