Seanad debates
Thursday, 20 March 2003
Tributes to Deputy Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
10:30 am
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I pay a well deserved tribute to the deputy head usher, Mr. Tony O'Reilly. I realise the name has other connotations, but for those of us who know Tony it means 32 years of service to Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas. He has been deputy head usher since 1991 and is essentially a very courteous and kind man who possesses the highest qualities. I know I speak for everyone when I say there have been many difficult occasions when his warmth and politeness have meant a great deal. All Members greatly appreciate the care and attention we receive from those employed in the Oireachtas, though we may seem to take them for granted. We may not seem to hold their service in high regard but we do. Tony's familiar face and care in good times and bad have been welcome markers of his calibre of service to both Houses as deputy head usher. I am particularly pleased that the Seanad is paying tribute to him.
Tony is in service until tomorrow but today is his last day in the uniform which has represented his formal mien. I always felt he was very proud of his job and the manner in which he did it. He showed endless regard and solicitude to all Members. I send the best wishes of the House to his wife and seven children for whom he will now have more time. He will return often to the Oireachtas in mufti and we will always be pleased to see him. It is with a united voice that the House thanks him sincerely for all he has done for us and wishes him great happiness in the many years which lie ahead.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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The Fine Gael group would like to be associated with the remarks of the Leader on the occasion of Tony's retirement. When I first came here seven years ago, I received good advice from an older Senator who said: "If you ever want to know anything about what goes on here or if you are ever looking for solid advice, Tony is your man." Throughout his time in the Houses of the Oireachtas, he has been a most courteous and agreeable person – someone one could always trust. He has an understanding of the dignity of the Oireachtas, which is important.
I think Tony lives near Ballyfermot and I recall meeting him there on one occasion when canvassing in a by-election in the constituency of Dublin Central. As happens in by-elections, representatives of the various political parties were stationed outside a church on a Sunday morning. On his way into the church Tony shook hands with each of the Deputies and Senators present. It was impossible to know which way he was inclined. He said to me: "It is very nice to see you in Ballyfermot, Senator." I was able to return the greeting.
Those of us who arrive here early each day are aware of the great morning lockout. Tony is also here very early and sometimes I managed to sit in his car if it was raining or snowing. He provided us with great shelter at various times. I wish him a long and successful retirement with his wife and seven children. He will be sorely missed in the House. The dignity he has shown to the House, and to its Members on countless occasions, is appreciated and valued by us. I know his retirement will be a flourishing one. I look forward to seeing him back shortly in the precincts of the House.
Joe O'Toole (Independent)
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It gives me great pleasure to add a few words to what has been said. When I was first elected in 1987, Tony was the first person who greeted me with "Hello, Senator." I looked around to see to whom he was talking. From that time he has always been helpful, supportive and, as the Leader has said, unfailingly courteous – sometimes to the point of deference. He has always been utterly reliable. He personifies a great sense of the dignity of the Houses of Parliament and their culture and he has upheld their proud tradition, which is crucially important.
The vital contribution of the staff to the Houses of the Oireachtas is very often forgotten. We are often the ones who break the rules around here and in his polite way Tony has been able, on many occasions, to point out to people that this is not quite the way things are done. He has played his part in maintaining the culture and values which are important in the Houses. It is crucial that this culture continues through the generations. We thank Tony for that dependability and reliability.
It is a byword that he is completely helpful, supportive and advisory to new people in the Houses, which is so important to people when they arrive and wonder where to go or what to do. Tony is one of those people who have always been able to have a quiet word with newly elected Deputies and Senators and the dignified manner in which he has done so is much appreciated.
More than anything else, through the calibre of his work, Tony has maintained the high level of the image of the Houses of Parliament and we appreciate that. I know that everybody in the House would like to affirm the points I am making. Senator Norris, in particular, wishes to say a word, if that is possible. We appreciate Tony's 32 years of committed, loyal and diligent service and we affirm that what he has done has been in our best interests. We thank him very much indeed.
Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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I arrived here 22 years ago, brash, noisy and threatening everything—
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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Tony obviously did not work on Senator Ryan.
Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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—and secretly terrified at the same time. In many cases, one really has no idea of what is in store, particularly if one arrives, as I did, from an independent background without a tradition of political involvement. It is people like Tony who begin to give one a sense that one has actually come somewhere that has an important role. He has an ability to be there and at the same time to be almost invisible. He is there to give support, assistance and advice without giving the impression that he is anything other than at one's disposal. He helped people to sort out the complications of their expenses, a trivial issue but one that very often matters to Members.
His sense of the dignity of the place is notable. We are all reluctant to talk about it, although we make noise about it occasionally. It cannot have been easy dealing for 32 years with the most paranoid group of people one could possibly meet, who all have a side of themselves where they are convinced that somebody is out to get them.
Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should speak for himself.
Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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They all have to look in a number of different directions at once. It has been a blessing to have somebody as calm, trustworthy, reliable and as easy to get on with as Tony, who at the same time never did anything but uphold the dignity of the House. It is, was and will continue to be a privilege for all of us to have somebody of that quality working with us. I wish him every happiness, long life and good health in his retirement.
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I join previous speakers in congratulating Tony O'Reilly on the tremendous achievement of 32 years service. I am sure there are many in the House would wish that they could say the same. Perhaps they will have to wear a uniform to ensure that.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by previous speakers that the role of an usher in the Houses of the Oireachtas is important in upkeeping the standards and dignity in which we operate. I was struck by the manner in which I have seen Tony carry out his duties with visiting groups and members of the public. My parents were with me on my first day here and I was impressed by the caring manner in which he dealt with my elderly father and gave him a tour of both Houses. I am sure this was indicative of how he behaves with all of the groups that come here and for that I wish to sincerely thank him.
Previous speakers referred to the importance of the dignity of this House. At times we rely totally on the ushers to uphold those standards. We sometimes have to be checked ourselves, which is done in the most courteous of manners. It is important that those standards are maintained. It would be interesting if he were to tell us of the people he coached, tamed and trained. There would be some interesting stories there. We are thankful for those with whom he succeeded and do not blame him for those with whom he failed.
David Norris (Independent)
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It is unusual for somebody who is not a leader to be allowed to speak and I am grateful for the opportunity. I usually deprecate these tributes, often to a long-lost Member of the House, as I have always felt that we waste an enormous amount of time in clichés and platitudes and that there is a level of insincerity and unreality about it. Today, however, we are not in the presence of the dead, thank God, we are in the presence of the living, that of somebody who has really enriched our lives. On this unusual occasion I can speak with a full heart and sincerity when I say it came as a surprise that Tony O'Reilly was retiring – he is much too young to go. While the Leader referred to another person of the same name, there is only one Tony O'Reilly as far as I am concerned.
David Norris (Independent)
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One used to hear mention of the "real Taoiseach", this is the real Tony O'Reilly as far as I am concerned. The House will not be the same without him. He makes the clichés real. While we often hear tributes such as "Ní fheicfimid a leithéid ann arís," it is true on this occasion – I do not believe we will see his like again. While I am sure we will see someone excellent take his position, it will be a different kind of excellence as Tony O'Reilly is unique. He is always in good humour, courteous, helpful and immaculately turned out. He has a very special talent of making it appear that one is important when one has a guest in the House and impresses the blazes out of him or her. That is a great talent. He has mastered the art of being deferential without any loss of his dignity and worth.
In this House I am a kind of gadfly and sometimes feel like Bertie Wooster, who many of us are to some extent. If we are Bertie Wooster, then Tony O'Reilly played a most excellent, sophisticated and wise Jeeves. I am sorry and saddened that he is going. He will certainly be missed and I am glad to think he will be back among us. I have retired once already and found it to be a most exhilarating experience. I hope Tony feels the same. I wish him many happy years with his family and friends.
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Government, I would like to be associated with the tributes paid by Senators to Tony O'Reilly who has given such long service. I, too, have encountered the friendly face, warm smile and helpful hand to every visitor. While Senator Norris referred to the company of the living, the appropriate proverb should be, "Saol fada chugat, a Tony."
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to be associated with the fine tributes paid to Tony O'Reilly. I have always known him as Tony – I did not know he was an O'Reilly until today. I have been a Member of the House for 25 years and always found him most helpful in guiding me. It was appreciated, not alone by me but by all Members also. It is great to see him in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery to hear the many fine and genuine tributes being paid to him. He is deserving of them all. He looks young to be retiring. I wish him a happy retirement with his wife and family.
An Cathaoirleach: When is it proposed to sit again?
Ms O'Rourke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.