Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While in one way, this is a very sad occasion, in another it is a very proud occasion for Kathleen, her fine family of boys and girls and John's brother, Michael, whom I got to know well through him. I welcome them to the House and extend a warm welcome to John's former colleagues behind me from the west and, in the Visitors Gallery, Deputies Éamon Ó Cuív and Dara Calleary, and my old friend and neighbour and former Cathaoirleach of the House Rory Kiely who was a very good friend of John.

My first term in the Seanad coincided with John's term and we sat close together on the Government side. I was a rookie and he was a very experienced man. I quickly learned that he was a man of very high intellect. Although he was deeply intelligent, he did not show it in a flamboyant way. His advice was always correct, although it was never presumptuous. One had taken his advice before one had realised he had even tendered it and it was always useful. I relied on him greatly in my early years here. He was always wonderful company. My memory of him will always be the twinkle in his eye because he always saw the humour in everything. It was wonderful to be in company with him and he had wonderful stories to tell. A particular part of the world is lonesome for him, as Kathleen and his family will know. There is a little town, Emmetsburg in Iowa, where John went on a number of occasions to represent the parliamentary friendship groups here. While I was also fortunate enough to visit it, John was so popular that he was called back on at least one more occasion. Last July some of them visited the House and the only other destination they had in mind was Knock to see John's homestead.

I am from a long line of drapers and always thought John was exceptionally well dressed. The Whip described him as “dapper” and so he was. I used to tell him that Kathleen had turned him out very well; he would always return the compliment and we could compare notes. It came to a funny conclusion one very warm summer's day when I had the temerity to come into the House wearing an all-white suit. He took me aside and told me that a man from County Mayo had used to come around here wearing a suit like that and that if he ever saw it on me again, we would be finished. That was his joke. That is the John I remember. As a Member of the Seanad and a party man, I am proud. He was a tremendously loyal Fianna Fáil Party man and gave us some of his best counsel and advice at party meetings where there was no publicity, praise and thanks. One got the truth from him and his wisdom and judgment. While nobody is always accurate, if John Carty was moving in a particular direction, 99.9% of the time I would go the same way. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.