Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to sympathise on the passing of Councillor John Bailey, a Fine Gael colleague of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, who passed away after an illness lasting some time. It is important that we pay tribute to such people. I knew Mr. Bailey for a long time. I first met him on the greatest day for him and his daughter, Maria Bailey, who is a Deputy and a Member of the Oireachtas, when they were elected together in June 2014. It is unusual for a father and daughter to be elected together. I particularly want to extend my sympathy, as I know others will, to Mr. Bailey's wife, Angela and all his children. He passed away very early this morning. It is a particularly difficult time for his daughter, Deputy Maria Bailey, and the staff in her office, where Mr. Bailey also worked as a political assistant and adviser.

Many Members will have known John Bailey. It is not for me to talk about him today. He was elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2014. Anyone who knew him will know he was immensely involved in the GAA and local politics. His political and sporting activities were his life and they very much defined who he was as a man. He was highly competitive and liked to take on a challenge. There will be other times and places to talk about him. Each and every one of us will have had our own experience of him, and each and every one of us will have our own stories about him. I wish to offer my condolences to his family, the staff in Deputy Maria Bailey's office and the Fine Gael Party as a whole. May he rest in peace.