Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I also pay tribute to the late Jack Fitzsimons who was a Member of this House. Although I did not serve with him, I became a Senator, in October 1989, in the same year that he lost his seat in the Seanad.

It is a great honour and privilege for anybody, irrespective of party politics, who gets elected to the local authority, town council or local county council, and it is a particularly elevated honour to serve as a Member of the Oireachtas, which Jack did for six years, 1983 to 1989.

He was an architect by profession and published a range of books. He was not a tunnel-vision politician, unlike many of us who get bogged down in the cobwebs of politics and do not look outside the Pale or beyond our life in politics. It must be a great tribute to his family that he not alone served in the political system but did other work, such as writing books. It takes a lot of dedication to produce books.

Earlier Senators spoke of his dedication and principled stand. No doubt not relinquishing his principles in the area of hare coursing probably cost him his seat. Having canvassed in places such as Waterford and Tipperary, and, indeed, Kerry and parts of Cork, I am aware that it is nearly a crime to mention anything about those involved in hare coursing, who are a powerful and strong lobby. As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I am honoured to pay tribute to Jack today.

I thank the Senators who contributed, the Leader of the Seanad, Senator Cummins, Senators Mooney, Barrett and Bacik but, more particularly, Senator Thomas Byrne, a fellow Meath man, who made a strong and heartfelt tribute. I heard Thomas speak, when Jack passed away, of the huge respect in which Jack Fitzsimons was held in the local community. As a colleague of Senator Byrne, I know of the huge regard he has, not alone for the late Jack Fitzsimons but for his entire extended family, and he said so on more occasions than one.

To his wife, Anne, and children and grandchildren, this is a special, poignant occasion. They are very welcome to this Chamber. I now ask my colleagues to stand for a minute's silence as a gesture of respect to the late, great honourable Senator Jack Fitzsimons.