Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I welcome John Robb’s son, William and his wife, and daughter, Martha, to the Seanad and to pay tribute to him. Obviously, I did not serve with him but he was an extraordinary human being by any measure, not just in Ireland but globally.

The fact he was appointed, as Senator Norris pointed out, by the then Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, to the 16th Seanad was not only controversial in Fianna Fáil but also in Northern Ireland. That he accepted the offer showed the character of the man and that he knew there had to be a different way. The fact he was reappointed by Fine Gael shows the character of Garret FitzGerald at a time when politics was not as accommodating and was far more combative in this House and the other House. He was reappointed by Charlie Haughey to the 18th Seanad. The fact he accepted the appointment during the most trying of times in Northern Ireland and in southern politics says much about how he was a man willing to reach out.

The ideas that he is now being honoured for are being talked about again. There is talk again about a new vision for a new Ireland and island. He pioneered those terms when nobody else would even speak about them. That says much about his vision.

He came from a tradition of helping those most in need. His father had been a battlefield surgeon, the worst medical position in which to be involved. That tells one that they have been through more trying times than being appointed to the Seanad. The fact that one has to sit through a battle and help people, many of them drawing their last breaths, tells us he was able to put up with the most trying of circumstances.

As Senator Norris pointed out, not only did he come to do his work here three days a week but he also did his rounds. I can only sympathise with his family in that they were sometimes probably not on the top of the list of priorities.I am sure in his heart his family were on the top of the list. As we know in politics, the family often suffers more. Priorities, in terms of patients when it came to his work as a surgeon but also in terms of trying to bring an end to the Troubles, were taking up a lot of his time, which I am sure the family would have appreciated. However, the fact that the President, who served in this and the other House, and obviously kept in contact with him, stated that he was an all-islander in the best sense of the word shows that in the words that he used in his time here, and which were new - the idea of a new vision, a new way of doing things other than the slaughter that was happening in Northern Ireland at the time - he was ahead of his time. We could do with him again now, notwithstanding Senator Marshall's election. That we would elect someone from Northern Ireland to this House would show how far we have come.

John Robb was a pioneer and a visionary in trying to bring people together when it was much easier to stay apart. In that respect, I pay tribute to him today. I thank the family for being here.