Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I pass on my sympathies to Finola and the family and our colleague, Richard, on the sad passing of a former colleague of ours. One line I saw written stated that John Bruton did his country a great service. That is something he did and it is something that all of us involved in political life strive for to be said about our service to our country, and we will hopefully be in political life and the Houses of the Oireachtas for that number of years.

He was well respected throughout Europe and very pro-EU. That was acknowledged when he took up the role of EU ambassador to the United States, where he was based for five years and worked with a neighbour of mine from home. He played a significant role in the peace process and was a great support to the Fine Gael family and all of us as Fine Gael members over the past long number of years, even in his retirement. He is someone all of us looked up to and respected.I want to pass on our sympathies to Finola and the family, and our colleague Richard and his family, on the sad passing of John.