Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will now proceed with tributes to the former Member, the late John Robb. Before I invite Senators to contribute, I extend a warm welcome to John's son and daughter, William and Martha, and William's wife, Niamh. They are very welcome. On behalf of the Members of the Seanad, I would like to express again our sympathy to them. I hope that since John's passing they have, in their own way, been able to come to terms with their sad loss.

John Robb had a long and distinguished political and professional career. He was appointed to the Seanad in 1982 by Charles Haughey. He served three consecutive terms here, having been renominated by Garret FitzGerald. This immediately illustrates the high esteem, on a cross-party basis, in which he was held. He was a committed politician but his duty to his patients was always evident. It has been reported that he would do the rounds of his patients in Ballymoney at 6 a.m. before driving to Dublin. He established the New Ireland movement in 1972 and was a founding member of the New Ireland Group in 1982.

John had a great love of the Irish language and, remarkably, he became proficient in it having only begun to learn it in his 60s. There is hope for us all. I am thinking of myself on that score.He will be remembered as a man who believed in dialogue, consensus and reconciliation with a deep humanity and who had a desire for a more inclusive Ireland. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.