Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Of behalf of the Seanad but, in particular, on behalf of my party, I pay tribute to the late Tom Fitzpatrick who passed away recently. I note the Dáil paid its tributes yesterday. He had a brief stint in the Seanad on the Administrative Panel before entering the Dáil. In every position he held, he delivered on it with great diligence and commitment. I pay tribute to his time in the Seanad and, in a general sense, to his overall political career. He was a wonderful example to so many people in Leinster House. When I became a Member of the Seanad in 1981 he was the Ceann Comhairle. This was my first introduction to the schoolmaster of Leinster House, as he would have been.

I recall being very struck by him, not alone by his demeanour and the way he conducted the business, which was excellent, but also by the kindly way in which he carried it out. He would often seek one out afterwards if he had to be severe with one in regard to a ruling, if one was popping up and down too often, or if he felt he had been brusque with those of us who were about the business of the Opposition, as we were then. I recall the kindly way he would seek one out and explain a point of order or, perhaps, enlighten one as to how one might go about one's business in the House in a more proper way. I remember that so well.

He was kind and meticulous and a really nice gentleman. I was struck by the way he conducted his business so well. He gave distinguished service in many areas of public life from his earlier life on town councils, county councils, VECs, and into Leinster House, first in the Seanad and later in the Dáil. He held many ministerial posts which he carried out with great diligence and respect for the job in hand and for the people with whom he dealt. I recall being on a deputation from our town council to see him when he was Minister for Transport. He met us with kindness and respect, dealt with us and followed through on our case. All his life was devoted to dealing with people respectfully, honestly and in a straightforward manner. He was a great example of a public servant and of how business should and can be done in public life.

I also met him in another guise. Many years ago he was involved in the Cavan drama society — which is where he met his first wife — and when my father and two others started an all-Ireland drama festival, he used to come to it and stay in the Hudson Bay Hotel. He was out of my reach at that time as I was very young then. I remember thinking what a rounded life he had, and he had the same in his private life. He made a lucky choice in his first wife and they were extraordinarily happy, but he lost her and a daughter, Fidelma. Many years later, having surmounted these troubles and worked through them, he married Carmel. We were used to seeing them both in this House as he attended his duties assisted by her in every way.

Tom Fitzpatrick was remarkable in public life, because I have not met anybody who has said a word against him. When speaking of others, people often say they was sharp or otherwise. Tom was not. He was kindly, well rounded, authoritative when necessary, conscientious, diligent and a really nice person. If we could all get the same epitaph, we would do well.

Tom served his constituency wonderfully. He represented Cavan and part of Meath at one stage, then Cavan on its own and then Cavan-Monaghan. His constituents received the same respect and support as he gave to every part of his public life. It is with great respect and sympathy that I propose this vote of regret and sympathy to Carmel, to his son and daughter, to his brother and his wider family who mourn a very fine politician.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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On behalf of my colleagues on this side of the House, I join the Leader in expressing our sincere sympathy to the family of the late Senator and Deputy, Tom Fitzpatrick. I met Tom on a number of occasions and am well acquainted with his son Tom junior, who was in college with my wife in UCD and who has established a successful career at the Bar following the legal traditions of his father. It was with terrible sadness we learned of his passing after such a great life and commitment to politics over many decades.

As the Leader said, Tom Fitzpatrick served in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He served not only in this House but also served in the Dáil for in excess of 25 years. He held three ministerial portfolios during his career. He was Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Minister for Transport and Power and Minister for Lands. When he became Ceann Comhairle in November 1982, after the three bizarre elections in such a short period of time, he was eminently suited to the position. I do not know of anyone else at the time who could have identified him or herself as suited to that position. Tom was wise, he came from a legal background and had an understanding of law. He was also experienced and, most important, was respected on all sides. He was eminently suitable for the position of Ceann Comhairle of the other House.

As the Leader said, he suffered much tragedy in his life, including the death in 1951 of his first wife and the death of his daughter. In the past 15 years he had to bear that terrible illness which afflicts so many people but which he bore with such dignity and style. He was a regular visitor to the House in recent years. He would have a drink with colleagues in the Members' bar and do his best to remember people even though he found this difficult. He enjoyed coming back to the House, meeting people and keeping connected with what was going on in this place.

Tom Fitzpatrick was also a huge figure in Fine Gael, not just in the Cavan-Monaghan area. At one stage he also represented part of County Meath. He was a bridge between the modernists and the traditionalists within our party and was utterly respected on all sides of the divide within Fine Gael throughout that very radical period for the party in the 1960s and 1970s. The former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald regularly required his advice and mentoring because he was a person who was utterly respected by all in the party and was well regarded.

We remember today his wife, Carmel, his daughter, Geraldine, and his son, Tom. We thank them for allowing him to give so much of his life to public service. Someone said to me that if ever there was a county solicitor who cared for all the people all the time, did not fleece them and was more than happy to give them his advice, it was Tom Fitzpatrick. One wishes this were true of every solicitor today.

David Norris (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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We remember his contribution and we especially praise the role he played in this House and in the other House over three decades. His memory will be always cherished in our party and among the people of Cavan-Monaghan.

Joe O'Toole (Independent)
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Those of us on the Independent benches wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy. It is unfortunate that none of us had the pleasure of working with Tom Fitzpatrick so we know him by reputation only, although Senator Norris claims a very remote family connection in the extended family gene pool.

He gave extraordinary service as a councillor, Deputy, Senator and Minister. His most difficult task of all — as the Cathaoirleach will appreciate — was as Ceann Comhairle. He had to adjudicate and mediate in very difficult times which he did with great distinction, winning the admiration and respect of parties on all sides of the House. This is the measure of the man.

I knew him only to meet him on the corridor or in the Members' bar. He was always pleasant, approachable and eager to exchange a few words, and he was interested in those around him.

As Senator Brian Hayes said, his deterioration in health was noticeable over recent years. It does not seem that long ago since I greeted him on the corridor. He made his contribution over more than three decades of public representation in public life. It is our duty to respect that level of commitment. We the Independent Members wish to offer our condolences to his wife and extended family and to the Fine Gael Party.

Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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Bhí aithne agam ar Tom Fitzpatrick agus bhí meas agam air. He was a man who seemed to be able to combine the qualities which meant one could warm to him and still have a sense of being in the presence of somebody who was worthy not just of affection but of respect. I was a new Senator and I may have been a little loud and brash but I found him a person to whom I could talk. He was interested in and accessible to new people coming in to Leinster House and he wanted to hear what they were thinking. When I arrived here first, having been familiar with Tom Fitzpatrick from observing politics from the outside, it surprised me to find that he was not only a less forbidding person than his political image, but also a very warm and sociable person. As the Leader said, people like him epitomise the very best qualities of public service. A man with the option of another career, which could have been vastly more lucrative, chose the career of politics and in the process did not make himself rich — as most politicians do not — but a figure of national significance.

As Senator Brian Hayes confirmed, he was a figure of enormous significance within his political party, which may be less appreciated by outside observers. Only on reading what has been written about him since he died have I become aware of the degree to which he was an enormously significant figure, who was taken seriously not because he could command 2,000 or 3,000 members, but because people respected the weight of his opinions, the value of his experience and the belief that he had an objectivity and a willingness to consider issues on their merits. They were the qualities that were apparent when he became Ceann Comhairle, the position with which I most associate him. He was a Ceann Comhairle of whom people spoke well, which is not always the case.

On my behalf and on behalf of the Labour Party, I wish to be associated with the words of condolence to his family. The country has lost a genuine, in the best sense of the word, public servant.

John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)
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On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I join with the Leader of the House and the leaders of the other groups in paying a well-deserved tribute to the late Tom Fitzpatrick. It is notable that he had a very distinguished academic career as a young man and obviously would have been very successful if he had decided to continue in that career exclusively. However, he made the decision to go into politics, a decision about which the country has every reason to be glad. It is obvious he had a very long career in public service and that service was, as has been stated, in the best sense of the word. It is unfortunate nowadays that we are so overcome by cynicism that the idea of public service does not seem to be valued, but is important and he was certainly a model in that respect.

It is notable that he put principle before expediency. In 1987, he could have continued as Ceann Comhairle, had he decided to cross the floor so to speak — although the Ceann Comhairle does not do that, as we all know. Nevertheless having been in the Chair, it would have been very tempting for him to continue. That he did not do so is a tribute to the fact that he had certain basic principles that he held to be very strong and valuable, and that he stuck by those principles. For those and for many other reasons, it is appropriate that we remember him. The best tribute that can be paid to anybody in my part of the country is to say that he was a decent man. Tom Fitzpatrick was a decent man and a gentleman as everybody who ever came in contact with him knew.

Senator Ryan spoke about respect. He was definitely held in very high respect, which was a respect of affection and not of fear or intimidation. I am pleased to join others in expressing our sympathy to his wife, extended family and colleagues in Fine Gael.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I join the words of tribute that have been paid to the late Thomas J. Fitzpatrick. I was privileged to know Tom for as long as I can remember and everything that has been said about him is correct. He was an honourable and decent man. While many people did not realise it, Tom was a native of County Monaghan. He was born in Scotshouse, which is just across the border from Cavan. He was very fortunate to spend most of his life in Cavan and represented the people of that county. As is commonly known by many people in this country, the people of Cavan dislike the Monaghan people and they hate us. The acceptance of a Monaghan man by Cavan people, therefore, is the best honour that can be paid to anybody.

He started his political career as a member of Cavan Urban District Council, which he served as chairman for many years. He was a Senator for a short time, a Deputy and, on three occasions, a Minister. He was then appointed Ceann Comhairle, the highest position in Dáil Éireann apart from Taoiseach. As Senator Dardis noted, he had the opportunity to continue as Ceann Comhairle in 1987 but his party did not wish for him to do so. I do not think many of us would pay attention to our parties if we had the opportunity to continue for another term as Ceann Comhairle.

I was privileged to know Tom Fitzpatrick for as long as I can remember. I was delighted to be able to attend his funeral last Thursday and honoured to take part in his guard of honour which, by representing every political opinion in County Cavan, demonstrated the high esteem in which Tom Fitzpatrick was held. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Carmel, his son, Tom, and his daughter, Geraldine, who currently lives in Cork, as well as to his nephew, Mr. Justice Thomas Fitzpatrick, who is a good friend of mine, and to the Fine Gael party at national level and in County Cavan.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I also wish to be associated with the tributes paid to the late Tom Fitzpatrick, who was elected to the Seanad on the administrative panel in 1961 and served in this House until 1965. He graduated to the Dáil in 1965, where he pursued a successful and distinguished career as Minister and Ceann Comhairle. Many other successful Members have followed his example by serving their apprenticeship in the Seanad before moving to the Dáil, which speaks volumes for this House. He commanded widespread respect from all sides of the political divide, and I often had occasion to meet him around Leinster House both when he was a Member and since he retired. I always found him to be a thorough gentleman. I extend my sincere sympathies to his wife,Carmel, his son, Tom, and his daughter, Geraldine, on their sad loss.