Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am humbled and privileged to lead the tributes to the late Myles Staunton, a former Deputy and Senator, who sadly passed away last year. I express my sincere sympathy to his family, his wife Marianne and children, Ruth, Elizabeth, Hugh, Myles and Aoife who are in the Visitors' Gallery.

From the outset of his career, Myles recognised that his native county could only prosper if it developed links with and understanding of the problems of other parts of the world and he recognised the possibilities of globalisation almost before the word was invented. In the course of his long and distinguished career as a public servant and businessman, Myles championed the economic development of his native County Mayo, and promoted the economy of the west. For many years he was passionately committed to the advancement of Knock airport as a vital transport link for the west. Above all, Myles was a man of voracity and intellect. He was an entrepreneurial visionary who unceasingly promoted Mayo as a great place in which to live, work and do business. He was an advocate of alternative energy and the harnessing of our natural resources long before the green agenda came to the fore. His acute business acumen and innovation was demonstrated by his involvement in the peat and seaweed industries. He firmly believed in the use of our natural resources to create employment. He was always seeking benefits for his community. He was a central part in the team that brought the US-based company, Allergan, to Mayo 34 years ago and thousands of people have been positively affected by his actions since then.

The late Myles Staunton was renowned in Fine Gael as an extremely capable and committed public servant. He represented Mayo with distinction as a Deputy during the Liam Cosgrave Government of 1973-77 and served in the Seanad until 1982 and again from 1989-92. His passionate commitment to public service ensured that he made a valuable contribution in the Chamber. He was a founding member of the trilateral commission which brings together elected politicians, academics, business people and civil servants from Asia, Europe and North America and continued to be involved in his work in this area until last year.

I had the pleasure of meeting Myles on numerous occasions and recall his warm and generous nature. I recall having a meal with my wife in Dunmore East in the early 1980s at a time of a Seanad election. During the meal a second bottle of wine arrived on the table which I was told had been provided by a gentleman at the bar. When I investigated who had done this I learned that it was the late Myles Staunton. He joined us and had a meal and we became the best of friends. I do not know how he found Dunmore East and knew I was there but it did no harm in the election afterwards.

The Cathaoirleach, Senator Paddy Burke, was among the many public representatives and friends who paid tribute to Myles when he described him as a true parliamentarian, public representative and a servant of both the State and County Mayo. A former Taoiseach, John Bruton, made a moving tribute when he said that Myles was a convinced and convincing advocate of viable, commercial and privately run economic development in the west. This was because he was willing to put his money where he mouth was, whether in the development of the local seaweed or turf industries.

Myles was deeply committed to his family and family life. I express my sincere sympathy to his family who are in the Visitors' Gallery. I was delighted to attend his funeral in Westport, the town he loved so well, and to reminisce with many of his former colleagues who deeply appreciated the work he did for the party and the country for many years. Ar a dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dílis.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group I express our deep sympathy to the family of the late Myles Staunton, his wife Marianne, Ruth, Elizabeth, Hugh, Myles and Aoife who are in the Visitors' Gallery. He is also survived by his brothers Hugh, Patrick, John and Neil to whom we express our deep sympathy.

I had the honour of serving in the House during the 1989-92 period, referred to by the Leader, when the then Senator Staunton was an active member. Outside politics he was a vibrant lively personality. I do not believe that at any time he allowed his political affiliations to inhibit the manner in which he would reach out to people across the political divide. That was one of his great qualities and, perhaps, one of the reasons he was so successful not only in politics but in the wider area of commercial life. It was in the genes as he came from a very distinguished family in Westport going back to the turn of the previous century. I read a little about his family background. His grandfather, who was also Myles Staunton, was a leading member of the United Irish League, a movement determined to end the inequalities of colonial landlordism. It is extraordinary that in our own families we are influenced to a large extent by those who have gone before us.

As the Leader pointed out, former Senator Staunton was not only a successful politician but, perhaps, a more successful businessman. He had the rare ability to pull people together and identify possibilities for his own area and was mainly responsible for bringing a large number of jobs to Westport and west Mayo. At a time when it was not politically correct to do so, he was a strong supporter of Knock airport. A former Taoiseach, John Bruton, made the point that he was a convinced and convincing advocate of viable, commercial and privately run economic development in the west, a strong supporter in the Seanad of Knock airport and held his own in every argument with those who questioned the vital link for all of Connacht in everything he attempted. He was relentless in pursuing his goals and was never discouraged by the setbacks sometimes inflicted upon him by myopic bureaucracy. That sums up the determination Myles Staunton had in everything he brought to bear on his life.

I was struck by another aspect of his life, the Leader mentioned the globalised nature of his activities. He was one of the pioneers of the Euro-Arab dialogue and led a visit by Irish Deputies and Senators to Lebanon and Syria in 1974. The Taoiseach who is a first cousin of the Senator, through his wife Fionnuala, was on the visit. That is interesting in light of all that has happened in respect of Syria. I was struck by a comment made in tribute by the then Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Councillor Teresa McGuire, which sums up the essence of Myles Staunton. She said Westport has lost one of its finest statesmen. A politician always thinks of the next election while statemen, like Myles, think of the next generation. Myles Staunton was ahead of his time. He was an advocate of alternative energy and the harnessing of our natural resources before the green agenda existed.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group I express our deepest sympathy to the family on the loss of a husband, father and grandfather and the wider political community - Ireland has lost a great man. Ní raibh a leithéid ann arís. I express my sympathies to his wife, Marianne, Ruth, Elizabeth, Hugh, Myles junior, who continues in the family tradition, Aoife, and his brothers Hugh, Patrick, John and Neil.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dílis.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to pay tribute to the late Senator Myles Staunton on behalf of the Labour Party group in the Seanad. I welcome his family and extend my sympathy to his wife, Marianne, his children and family and to his friends and those who knew him in Westport.

I did not know him personally but I have a Westport connection, as my great grandmother was a Reilly from the centre of town and I have a great love for Westport. I knew of the late Senator by reputation and his great stature in the town. Senators Mooney and Cummins have spoken about the deep affection in which he was held in Westport.

The late Senator was first elected in 1973 to the Dáil and as others have said, he served a number of terms in the Seanad and gave a total of 12 years public service to the Oireachtas. As a Labour Party member, I was interested to read of his critical role in the formation of the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition, the Government of Liam Cosgrave and Brendan Corish. His election as a Fine Gael Deputy made that coalition possible, which is an interesting aspect of that election. I have read of his eloquent advocacy for economic development in the west and in Westport, in particular, as well as his strong advocacy for the use of natural resources and his recognition of the possibilities of globalisation. As Senator Mooney has said, he was ahead of his time in terms of the environmental agenda and recognising the possibilities of renewable energy and the immense potential of our natural resources for economic renewal and development. He was ahead of his time also in terms of his role on the global stage, in looking to develop links between Ireland and Asia as well as other European countries.

I pay tribute to his distinguished and highly-respected career in political life and in public service. Again, may I express my sincere sympathy on behalf of the Labour Party group to his family, friends and to the people of Westport.

David Norris (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On behalf of the Independent group, I express my sympathy to the late Senator Myles Staunton's wife, Marianne, and his family, whom I am very pleased to see in the Visitors' Gallery of this Chamber, which he graced with his presence. I know that my friend and colleague, Senator Quinn, who knew him better than I did, wishes to speak about a man whom we all liked and whose company we enjoyed.

He was a charming gentlemanly man, a man of ideas and endless intellectual curiosity. That is why it is so shocking that he died at a comparatively young age. I would say that because I am getting towards 70 years myself. I can hardly believe that it must be nearly a year since I saw him in Leinster House. He used to come from time to time to use the Oireachtas Library and the dining room. I remember having a little chat with him over coffee. Last year I met him and his wife, Marianne, in Westport. Unlike Senator Bacik, I have no known connections with Westport but it is one of the most beautiful towns in Ireland, a little like Birr, because it is a planned town. The way the river flows through it and the arrangement of the elegant buildings would have appealed to Myles Staunton because he had an organised mind. As others have said, he was ahead of his time.

I had the privilege of serving on both occasions when he was a Member of this House and I remember him speaking on what subsequently became known as green issues, organic development, small local development using local products such as turf and seaweed. That is very much the way of the future. He is a real and substantial loss not just to this House and to his family but also to the country because we are beginning to realise the value of community, and learning from northern Spain, where one of the largest banks has survived because it is a community development, where everybody has a part share of it. A conference is being organised shortly about co-operatives. It would be such a privilege to hear the views of the former Senator Myles Staunton on these developments and I think he would have approved of it because he put the values of humanity above the system. For that we all honour him.

Let me end with a little Latin tag that I think applies particularly to him. Nollum quod tetigit non ornavit - He touched nothing that he did not improve.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My contribution will be devoid of a Latin phrase but Senator Norris's final remark was apt. I join in the tributes to my former parliamentary colleague, Myles Staunton. His service as a Deputy and a Senator was impressive. He will remain in Fine Gael folklore as an iconic figure because he won that crucial extra seat in 1973. The history scholars among us will remember that at that stage the Fianna Fáil Party had been in power for 16 years, which seemed endless, but his victory at that election changed the story and brought a new Government to power.

In one sense Myles Staunton was a victim of his own qualities - his vision and ability. The type of politics that allows one to win elections, both local and national, was not the type of politics he practised because he saw the bigger picture. He saw that politics was not just about one's own community, town, county or constituency, but it was a much bigger job to turn around the country and the world. His contribution in that respect is worthy of consideration. I did not serve in the Seanad during his time but I observed his performance at parliamentary party meetings. His speeches had a depth of vision and substance. If we had more of those qualities in politics, and if the political system did not hinder that sort of politics, our country would be much better.

We all learned from his contributions in both Houses and at parliamentary party meetings. In recent years, I would see him occasionally in the Oireachtas Library. He was always talking about a new idea. My final discussion with him was about the sugar industry and he had ideas about regenerating that industry. There were times when he almost convinced me that one could grow sugar beet in Mayo, perhaps a stretch too far.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

For the Senator's information, sugar beet did grow in Mayo.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I withdraw that remark.

New ideas and inventions were to the fore of his mind. He was a very sociable character and was always a friendly face who was interested in people. I extend my profound sympathy to his family. They can be genuinely proud of him. I see that the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, has joined them. He is one of Senator Staunton's successors. He has a different style of politics but the same commitment to country and cause. It is interesting that people have a different way of approaching problems and contributing to society, but in his unique way, Myles Staunton played a role that will be remembered in the Oireachtas and in the Fine Gael Party. For those whom he has left behind he has given us strong, positive and happy memories.

Feargal Quinn (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am delighted to be here to have the opportunity to say a few words about my friend, Myles Staunton. We met when Denise and I were on our honeymoon. We met at mass. We were there for two Sundays. We were in the south of Spain in a little village called Torremolinos in 1962. Myles was on holidays there without his girlfriend who was to be his bride two years later. In those days one did not go on holidays with one's girlfriend because it was not the thing to do. One had to wait until one got married before that sort of thing happened.

Denise and I were at mass on the first Sunday and noticed two altar boys made the collection. The following Sunday there were no altar boys and I realised towards the end of mass there would be no collection. The vast majority of people at the mass were Irish; one could hear the voices. I caught Myles's eye and said we should make a collection. I said I would do one side and he should do the other. The first few collections were coins and I turned to Myles and said, "notes only". As we went to each row we said, "notes only". Notes were the equivalent of 5 cent. The two piles of collections were so high that when we handed them to the priest at the end of mass he gave us a big hug.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

You were not due back the following Sunday.

Feargal Quinn (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We met at mass because everybody went, but Myles was a devout man. He had a strong sense of religion and the importance of the next life. I hope he is looking down on us. I wish he was here today.

There is a lovely O. Henry story which I have told before about people getting an invitation to a funeral of somebody who was very old. They went to her home and she met them at the door. They said they thought it was her funeral. She said she was not going to wait until she died, and that she wanted to see everyone again and would enjoy meeting them. I hope Myles is looking down on us and would enjoy this occasion because he loved the House and the mixture of politics and business.

I always admired him from an early age. He was in business and was able to mix politics with it. He became an idol and model for me to emulate. I saw what he did and wondered if it was possible for me to follow. We were competitors from that point of view. Myles came here on a regular basis and we would check up on each other and how we were doing. As I mentioned, he married two years after I did and ended up with five children, as did I. I have not checked to see how many grandchildren there are, but there was competition in terms of children and grandchildren.

What impressed me about Myles was his ability to be able to concentrate on business to the benefit of his local community. I and my wife visited Myles and Marianne. He took us to the seaweed factory and showed us what he was doing. His commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to the people of that part of the world was evident. In recent times I visited Knock airport. Every time people mention Monsignor Horan they also mention Myles Staunton because it was one of his projects. I did not realise until recently the extent to which he defended Knock airport in this House because it was criticised. He did so because he felt sure it was the right thing to do.

It was not until after his death I found out he was a Fulbright scholar and was educated through the American system. My memory of Myles will be of a person who was full of fun, craic, humour and great company. Senator Mooney was correct when he said he came from a family of people who devoted themselves to the community. He devoted itself to the next generation which is an interesting tribute to pay to somebody. The next generation will benefit, not just in Westport and the west but Ireland as a whole, from the example he set.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to say a few words about Myles Staunton. I am delighted to have met Marianne and his family. One son is in Australia and is unable to return. I hope Myles is enjoying today, and is looking down and is proud of her, his five children, the days he spent in this House and the other House and his contribution not just to business but to politics. His work has benefited the community and Ireland. He has set an example many others would surely wish to follow.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As a newcomer to the Seanad I would like to be associated with the remarks made about the late Myles Staunton. I met him and Marianne some years ago and admired him from a distance because of the work he did in the local community, politics and local development. As someone who is married to a Mayo man, I would never be forgiven if I let this great occasion pass and did not pay tribute to a great Mayo man who did so much for his community of Westport. I am from Clifton and was always jealous of the work that took place in Westport.

Many communities wished they had the likes of Myles Staunton to work with and for them. Much has been said about his involvement with the development of Knock airport and Allergan. He was involved in business, seaweed, peace, power and natural resources. He had vision and foresight when nobody else did. I could not put it better than Councillor Mullaney who referred to Myles Staunton and the great work he had done for the Mayo power project at Killala. He said: "Great credit goes to the promoters of the project and in a special way I would like to acknowledge the important role played by the late, very great, Myles Staunton. I can say without contradiction that without Myles this project would never have happened. "

One could not mention all the projects with which he was involved in Mayo and the western seaboard. Nothing moved in the area without his having a hand in it. I thank him on behalf of the people of the west and the country. I have knowledge of the work he did when he was in the Seanad. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I want to join in the tributes to the late Myles Staunton and welcome Marianne and his family to the House. I first got to know him back in the 1980s. He called to me on a regular basis at my office in Ballinasloe when he was a Senator and was gearing up for a European election. He was a most charming and delightful person. One always felt better after meeting and having a conversation with him than one did before he arrived. He was always full of vibrancy, new ideas and life. He wanted to achieve things. As other speakers have said, he was an entrepreneur in the true sense. He wanted to create a better community for his beloved Westport.

He harnessed green technologies and ideas before they became popular or featured on other people's radar. I heard much from him about harvesting iodine from seaweed and his work in the peat industry. He has left a lasting legacy. He was involved in everything that was good and powerful in Westport and was involved in regional development in its truest sense. His involvement with Knock Airport is legendary. At that time he had many powerful detractors who spoke against what he, Monsignor Horan and others were trying to achieve but he was proven right. Those of us who live in the west of Ireland and use the airport on a regular basis can see how it has benefited the region. He helped to attract industries like Allergan to Westport and they are a lasting legacy.

I have always associated Myles, and another Senator alluded to it earlier, as the person who changed the Government in 1973 and broke Fianna Fáil's grip on power in a dramatic fashion. If he had not won a seat in West Mayo, as it was known at that time, we probably would not have had the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government come to power. Like the present Government it had to take the reins of power at a difficult time because we were in the middle of an oil crisis and it was a very difficult time economically. I always felt that Myles was more of an entrepreneur and businessman than a politician but he was still a very successful politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann and served in Seanad Éireann and made a fantastic contribution to public life. Obviously his foreign connections helped forge important links for the country, business and industry. As speakers have said, the country has lost a great person, a man who made a major contribution to public life, business and enterprise in the west of Ireland. We need more people like him. Anybody who met him was left with a lasting impression and he conveyed a lot of good ideas and inspired people to try to achieve some of the things that he did for his people and community. Mayo has lost one of its favourite sons. I know that his family miss him dearly but they can be very proud of his very many achievements in public life and in business.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to be associated with the well deserved warm tributes to Myles Staunton. I did not know him as well as some of the members but I greatly enjoyed hearing the tributes and know that they are well deserved. Neither did I have the opportunity or privilege of serving with him in this House. Any time I met him he was always bubbly and good humoured. As has been said, he was truly innovative and a man of great initiative. He had great vision and achieved so much. It has been wonderful to hear all of the Senators pay tribute to him today.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome Marianne and her family here today who were in the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, who was here earlier and is a close family friend, and Deputies Calleary and O'Mahony.

I wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Myles Staunton who served in the Dáil from 1973 to 1977 and in the 14th Seanad, 15th Seanad and 19th Seanad, from 1977 to 1982 and 1989 to 1992. Although his time in Leinster House preceded my election to the House, as a fellow Mayo person I knew him very well for a long time during his career as a councillor, a national politician and as a businessman. Quite a few references were made to the 1973 general election and I remember it quite well. I was at the convention in Breaffy House where he was adamant that only two candidates should run in the then three seater West Mayo constituency. His assessment was proved right and resulted in a change of government.

Myles was very well travelled and was always going to or coming from some place, and I do not mean Westport or Castlebar. He was a politician for the people and always sought to benefit his community but he had his eye firmly placed on larger projects and the bigger picture. He was basically responsible for bringing Allergan to Westport which is now an important pharmaceutical industry in the region and the country. He was a politician and a businessman but first and foremost he was an extraordinary salesperson and could sell any project. He could have sold sand to the Arabs. He was involved in seaweed manufacturing, egg production, peat briquettes and national peat power generation. The larger the project the more enthusiastic he became and sold people his ideas. He was a great European and it was a shame that he was narrowly beaten when he stood for election to the European Parliament in 1979 for the Connacht constituency. He would have excelled in Europe had he been successful.

In all of my dealings with the late Myles Staunton, a former Senator and Deputy, both in a private capacity and politically, he was very honourable and genuine. He was an absolute gentleman whenever one dealt with him. As has been said here already, he was quite a character who had a great sense of humour and was very entertaining and witty. His political experiences were widely respected. During his time in the Oireachtas he made many friends in the Houses. His contributions here were always concise, to the point and were common sense. His political experience was also recognised internationally as he acted as procedural adviser to several parliaments over the duration of his political career. My late father also served with him on Mayo County Council so I have had many associations with Myles Staunton over a long period. I extend my sympathy to Marianne, Aoife, Myles, Hugh, Ruth and Elizabeth and the extended Staunton family. His family is very welcome to the Seanad today but it is unfortunate that their visit is due to his death. I was quite shocked when I heard he had died because I had met him just a couple of days previously. Again, I would like to be associated with the votes of sympathy expressed in the House today.