Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome to the Public Gallery Jack Fagan and Alex O'Brien, transition year students from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, who are here for the day to see what goes on behind the scenes in Leinster House.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No. 1.

I pay tribute to a former friend, colleague and political adviser of mine and of all of us in Fine Gael in Longford, Louis Belton, who passed away last weekend. The slogan back in the 1980s when Louis was campaigning to regain the Fine Gael seat in Longford that had not been held since the time of the great General Seán MacEoin, whom we commemorated last weekend in his home village, was "Give Longford a Say, Vote Louis J". Louis was involved in politics since 1979, with a family involvement that went back to the foundation of the State. He served on Longford County Council and various boards. He was elected as a Deputy, served as a Senator and subsequently regained his seat in the Dáil. He was a friend to us all, including me and a number of other members of the local authority in Longford. He was my first port of call as a political adviser. He sometimes rang me even before I got to ring him to discuss whatever issue it might be. He was a good friend to everybody in Leinster House. Any of the ushers and other staff who knew him and to whom I have spoken have said that. He was a fantastic character and very witty. He was a great sports person and a great GAA person. Only four weeks ago, he stood in Pearse Park in Longford along with Shane Doyle, the captain of his local GAA team, as the team accepted the intermediate championship cup, having beaten my home team. Louis's team had been waiting 40 years for victory and my team was waiting 33 years. We have another year to go but I am delighted Louis was there to see his team's victory. It is important that we remember the great service he gave to our community in Longford, whether his constituency was Longford-Roscommon or Longford-Westmeath. He was a Longford man through and through. I express my sympathies to Anita, his sister, Maureen, and all the Belton family.