Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I too am pleased to pay my small tribute to the great Des Hanafin. I extend my warmest welcome to Mona, Mary, John, MaryClaire, Darragh, John Junior and the two Tipperary Deputies who are with us here today. Des Hanafin is a legend in Irish politics, and in particular is a legend in Fianna Fáil history. He came from a good, strong, republican Tipperary background, and that informed him throughout his political career. I saw a photograph of him as a small boy sitting on a drum at a Fianna Fáil rally. There was a band playing and he is absolutely identifiable; he did not change one bit in the intervening half century. I associate him with the great names of the early days of Fianna Fáil. I know that he was not in the original front rank during the War of Independence because he was not alive then, but he was very much in the tradition of de Valera, Lemass, Frank Aiken and Jim Ryan. I am sure that even non-Fianna Fáil people would accept that they were great patriots. Des and his generation were the first generation that had to try to live up to the achievements of those freedom fighters and there is no doubt but that Des Hanafin fought a great fight for his country, his county, his party and his beliefs, both political and personal.

I knew Des and had the privilege of being able to vote for him as a young county councillor on two occasions. It is slightly ironic that I subsequently was elected to the Labour panel, for which - if my instinct is correct - a Hanafin will run on the next occasion. I hope that I can make some small contribution to John's election campaign by not running myself. I think that is the best thing I can do for him. I wish him well, and wish Mary well. People talk about political dynasties, and often use the term disparagingly, but anyone active in the political game has the highest of respect for people who were born into political households and feel the need and call of duty to continue in that. It takes great resilience for families to stick it out. There are ups and downs and over a long time, it is not possible to be winning all the time. At the moment there is no Hanafin in the Oireachtas, but I believe that could change very dramatically in the next 12 months and we may have a Hanafin in both Houses. I look forward to that prospect.

It was a great honour for Des, when he was father of the House, to have Mary, as a young Minister of State, come in to address this House. It must have been a great joy for them both. I had great regard for Des for many reasons but when most of our erstwhile colleagues retired from the Oireachtas and subsequently dumped on the Seanad when presented with the opportunity during the referendum, Des was one of the very few former Members who came out strongly and campaigned against the abolition of the Seanad. Many of his colleagues disappointed me at that time, but Des was four-square behind the Seanad because he realised the value of it to the body politic in Ireland.

It has to be said that Des had strong principles, which one would have to admire. He was also a man of great compassion and even though he held the strongest principles - especially on the big question of abortion - I never read anything by him that was hostile, confrontational or unpleasant to people who did not share his opinion. That is a wonderful thing, and as we are facing into the next round of that great battle, I hope the wisdom and passion that Des displayed will obtain throughout the debate and people will respect one another's divergent views. Everybody has an opinion and everybody tries to do what is right according to his or her own lights.

I often think that Des's compassion came from an addiction that I share with him, because I believe that when one goes through that type of thing, one thinks outside the box much more and becomes more passionate for their fellow men. When I was at Des's funeral mass and heard Mary saying that he had not had a drink for 50 years, something changed inside me. It inspired me greatly and I am clinging to it. I am sure that many other people in my fix would share that.

It is a privilege to be here today to remember Des Hanafin and to remember the great days of Fianna Fáil. Without wishing to be political, I hope those days will come back to us, as long as we are inspired by people like Des Hanafin.