During the Recess, Members of the House learned with deep regret of the death, on September 1st last, of Deputy James J. Collins— ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Deputy Collins first stood as a candidate for Dáil Éireann in 1948. The fact that he successfully contested each successive general election since then, on five occasions being returned at the head of the poll, was not only a measure of the high regard in which he was held by his constituents, but a mark also of the clear recognition by them of his untiring labours in their interests as a Member of the Dáil and also of Limerick County Council over which he presided for 12 years and of which he was Vice-Chairman at the time of his death.
While still a boy Jimmy Collins was active in the fight for Independence. A member of West Limerick Flying Column, he subsequently became Adjutant of the West Limerick Brigade, IRA, taking a prominent part in many engagements and suffering terms of imprisonment. During the Emergency years, he was a District Leader in the Local Defence Force.
Apart from membership of Dáil Éireann and of Limerick County Council, he was an active member of the General Council of County Councils and of many other representative bodies. He was a delegate of Ireland on the Council of Europe. Truly it can be said of him that he devoted himself completely to the service of the people, especially the people of his own native county.
He was a regular and obviously well-informed contributor to our deliberations here and his views, especially on local government and agricultural affairs, were highly valued and commanded general respect.
Good-humoured, generous and warmhearted, none of us could wish for a more loyal colleague or more genial companion. His loss will surely be felt not alone by those of us who were his colleagues in the Party which he helped to found but on all sides of this House of which Deputy Collins was such a popular and highly esteemed member.
I would ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, to convey to the late Deputy's widow and family our deepest sympathy. Déanaimid cómhbhrón ó chroí leo ina mbris. Go dtuga Dia gach sólás dóibh agus go dtuga Sé ionad imeasc na bhfíréan d'anam uasal an té atá imithe uainn.
Members rose in their places.