Bhí mé thar a bheith buartha deich lá ó shin nuair a chuala mé an scéal go raibh bás tagtha ar Jim Mitchell agus nach raibh sé linn níos mó. Chuir seo isteach go mór ormsa, mar Theachta a bhí ag freastail leis ar feadh na mblianta. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón féin agus comhbhrón mo pháirtí a ghabháil lena bheanchéile, Patsy, agus lena chlann, Niall, Ruairí, Sinéad, Aoife agus Caitríona.
Chuir sé isteach go mór ar Theachtaí ar fud Theach Laighean a raibh aithne acu ar Jim i rith na mblianta. Chuir sé isteach go rí-mhór ar mhuintir a dháilcheantair féin, go mórmór ar mhuintir Inse Chaoir, Bhaile Fhormaid agus Chluain Dolcáin. D'fhreastail sé sa Teach seo ar feadh 25 bliain mar Theachta, mar Aire Rialtais agus mar chara mór. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.
Jim Mitchell was always a conviction politician. Jim was born on 19 October 1946, the seventh of ten children. His father died when Jim was just ten years of age. At the age of 14, he did the entrance exam for Guinness's brewery and worked there until he did his leaving certificate. Subsequently, he studied computers in Trinity College, joined the Fine Gael party in the 1960s, was attracted to the liberal wing of the party and had a deep interest in the just society concept.
In 1970 he stood in his first by-election in Dublin South-West and in 1973 was principally responsible for the election of Declan Costello in that constituency to serve in the Cosgrave coalition Government. In the same year, he married Patricia Kenny – his wife Patsy – from Mountbellew, County Galway. In 1974, he was elected to Dublin County Council. In 1976, he contested his second by-election in the constituency of Dublin South-West and, at 29 years of age, became the youngest Lord Mayor in Dublin's history.
In 1977, he was elected as a Deputy for Ballyfermot, his second constituency, and was appointed as spokesman on labour by Garret FitzGerald. In 1981, he was elected as a Deputy for Dublin West and was appointed Minister for Justice. During his term as Minister, he introduced legislation to abolish the death penalty. He was subsequently re-elected in February 1982 to the Dublin West constituency and again in November of that year. From 1982 to 1984 he served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and Minister for Transport and from 1984 to 1987 as Minister for Communications and oversaw the splitting of CIE into three companies and the bringing about of An Post and Telecom Éireann.
In 1985, he served as president of the EU Transport Council and in the 1992 general election was elected to Dublin Central, his fourth constituency. In 1994, he was a narrow loser in the European elections and in 1997 he again decided to run for the Dáil and was elected to Dublin Central. In that period he underwent emergency surgery for cancer and was appointed to the chair of the Committee of Public Accounts. In 1999, he ran in the European elections and the Committee of Public Accounts under his chairmanship began investigations into the deposit interest retention tax irregularities.
In 2000, despite his illness and in severe pain, he produced the final report of the DIRT inquiry. In September 2000, he published a document "Democratic Revolution" which had wideranging references and proposals for the bringing about of an effective Parliament in this Chamber. He also published a document dealing with the libel laws. In February 2001, he was appointed deputy leader to Fine Gael party leader Deputy Michael Noonan. In May of this year, he unfortunately lost his seat in the general election.
Of all the politicians I have known, Jim Mitchell was one who displayed political generosity of a kind seldom seen in that he invited candidates from all quarters to serve with him in whatever constituency he stood. He showed remarkable courage and generosity in that sense. He could be direct, abrasive and controversial, but he was always a staunch defender of his point of principle. His vision encompassed the bigger picture, the interests of society and the people in general.
He will be sorely missed by the people in Inchicore from whom he was never parted and by the people of Dublin who regarded him as a giant on the political stage for more than 20 years. His work was exemplary both as a Minister and as a Deputy in Opposition, when he held a number of front bench portfolios. His integrity, enthusiasm and commitment were evident to all.
We should not forget that Jim had a great sense of humour and wit, which are necessary parts of political life. I recall in the 1980s when the idea of having seachtain na Gaeilge was mooted, he tried to revive his Irish because he wanted to participate in it. His teacher was Michael Begley from south Kerry and instead of giving him the normal discourse with which the Ceann Comhairle would be familiar, he taught him a litany of invective which would do justice to the Dingle fare. I had to physically restrain Jim from coming in here and spilling forth his new found knowledge to the then Ceann Comhairle.
On another occasion, as director of elections for the Galway East by-election in 1982, he tried to bring the Dublin concept of mass contact with the electorate to the Galway East constituency. He decided as a final tour de force that there should be contact with all the electorate on the morning of the election, starting at 5 a.m. He outlined his plans in considerable detail. I had brought my fellow director of elections for the Tuam area, the then Deputy John Donnellan, to the meeting and when he heard Jim's plans, he asked him if he wanted to be eaten alive by every sheep dog in Galway East. However, that activity did not take place.
Jim was a devout Catholic who was devoted to his wife and family. He displayed a wonderful understanding of human nature in all its forms. I was privileged to serve and work with Jim Mitchell and to know him. His legacy to Dáil Éireann and to democracy will stand the test of time. His work with the Committee of Public Accounts is an example of how effective Dáil committees could be in the interests of probity, value for money and accountability. His document, "Democratic Revolution", which aimed to make this Chamber and its proceedings more effective is a fitting legacy to a lad from Inchicore who rose to the heights of national Parliament.
Jim was generous to a fault with his time and energy. He will be a great loss to this party. His loss to his wife, Patsy, to his sons, Neil and Ruairí, to his daughters, Sinéad, Aoife and Caitríona, to his brother, Gay, and to other members of his family will not be easily borne. I extend my deepest sympathy to them and to the extended Mitchell family.
Jim was a devoted father. I stood in his house last Tuesday and it was obvious that it was a home. I was taken by a seascape painting on the wall. I know Jim had a great interest in the sea, its power and uncertainty. I am struck by the lines of the Irish poet, John O'Donoghue – not the Minister – in his poem, Beannacht. It states:
When the canvas frays in the curragh of thought
And a stain of ocean blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home.
Slán abhaile, Jim.