Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the fantastic tributes made by my colleagues. Terry and I came from different parties. Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of serving with him in the Seanad. We had mutual friends, such as Brian Walsh in Galway and Deputy Carey from the Banner. He visited our city on many occasions. I was lucky enough to have been elected to this House in 2020 and regret that I did not have the opportunity to serve with Terry because he is fondly remembered here. Speaking to staff and Members, it is very clear he was held in the highest regard and is remembered as a thoroughly decent man. He was respected across the political divide. One of his closest friends was my party colleague and former Fianna Fáil councillor, Peter Savage. They served together for many years, first on Louth County Council.

As others have outlined, Terry had a fantastic love of sport, particularly the GAA, and was the Government spokesperson in the Seanad on sport during his time here. He also claimed he played in the centre court at Wimbledon, and I took him at his word on that.

Speaking to him, one of his finest political memories was when he accompanied the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to the White House and met President Barack Obama. I think he was really proud of that. He was on that trip with then Deputy Brian Walsh. It was a fantastic honour and one Terry well deserved.

He had a great fondness for the Irish language and proudly wore a fáinne on his lapel. His staff told me he once went on an Irish language refresher course. A number of colleagues, including Gerry Adams, were on the course. I suppose they agreed to differ on a number of issues. He loved the language and continuously promoted it and backed it up.

As others have noted, his love was his wife, Aileen and their three kids. He spoke about his children's achievements in business and in life. On my own behalf and that of all the Galwegians who knew Terry and got to know him through Brian, Joe, Seán and others, I offer Terry's family, many friends and his colleagues here in Leinster House my deepest sympathies on their sad loss.

To quote the great man himself: there was only one Scobe. That was certainly the case. There was only one Scobe. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.