Deputies will be sad to have learned in recent days of the death of Joe Farrell, a former Member of this House. May he rest in peace.
Joe had a distinguished political career during which he served in both Houses of the Oireachtas for 20 years. He first served as a Senator from 1961 to 1973 and during those 12 years he was a member of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges. He was elected to the Dáil where he served until 1981 and held the distinguished honour of being the oldest Member of the 21st Dáil.
Joe was a member of Louth County Council and Dundalk Urban District Council, on which he served as chairman for three terms. He also served as a member of the Louth county committee of agriculture, in which he displayed great interest, and the Eastern Regional Tourism Organisation. He served as chairman of the North Eastern Health Board on many occasions including 1991, the year of his retirement from the board. He gave long and distinguished service to many committees, boards and organisations and served as chairman of Dundalk Harbour Board from 1970 to 1973. He had particular interest and expertise in that area.
Joe was regarded as a chairman of great ability, a fact which is highlighted by his election to many such positions throughout his career. He was considered to be astute and to possess an enormous capacity to assess a situation to ensure that justice and fair play prevailed. His great courtesy and personal qualities earned him respect from Members on all sides of the House. Long after his retirement, he continued to attend various social and political functions. He particularly liked to attend functions where issues of parliamentary democracy were discussed in order to maintain the contacts he made during his career.
Joe was born in Dundalk in July 1905 and educated at St. Malachy's school. On the Government's behalf I wish to offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Margaret, and his extended family. We thank them for his long life of service to our party and his enormous interest in its affairs, in all things political and in the affairs of his native county.