Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On our group's part and our party's part, I express the real sadness we felt about the news we got about John Connor's passing on Saturday. I will not outline again his esteemed career, which you have just outlined for us, a Chathaoirligh. He was undoubtedly a public servant to his core. While you are correct in saying he was a man of real intellect, he was probably one of the most humble people you could talk to. There was no hifalutin loftiness about him. He knew as much about international affairs as he knew about what was going on down the road or around the corner from him. That epitomises the kind of person he was and the interest he had in people and anything and everything that affected people. I do not know this from personal experience, but I am also told by my colleagues that he had an absolutely wicked sense of humour and that is why he was liked by all and every party in this House and in the chambers he shared in Roscommon. I put on the record of the House how sorry we are. We extend our sincere condolences to John's family, his very wide circle of friends in his community and the people he served. It was a privilege to have had him as a member of our party.