Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to support the motion for John Connor. I was saddened when I heard the news that John Connor had been involved in an accident and sadly passed away. I served in this Chamber with John Connor from 1997, I think, to 2002. As previous Senators said, he was one of the finest orators who graced these Chambers. He had a way with the English language and he had a great ability to put his point across not just on agriculture but many subjects that were raised.

His battles with the Leader of the House at the time, Donie Cassidy, are legendary. He had many a battle with Donie Cassidy – nearly every morning on the Order of Business – and they are well documented.

John Connor, as the Cathaoirleach said, was elected in 1981. He was a short period in the Dáil, he then went into the Seanad, back into the Dáil again and then back into the Seanad. Of course, the constituency in Roscommon was finely balanced between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael at that time. Sometimes it was two Fianna Fáil representatives and one Fine Gael, or two Fine Gael and two Fianna Fáil. It was always either him or Liam Naughten. One was in the Seanad and the other was in the Dáil. It was a difficult constituency to hold down a Dáil seat in. They had the same battles in Fianna Fáil between Terry Leyden and Seán Doherty.

John Connor was both a TD and a Senator and served for 20 years in Roscommon County Council. He was a great public representative. He was very popular right across the political divide. It is with great sadness that we learned he was involved in a car accident. I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the Connor family.John Connor and I were on the agricultural panel. We never had any falling out. We both got elected and we were the best of friends. That is the way John Connor was. He was a very nice man and I am saddened to say he has passed away.