I wish to express on my own behalf and that of my party our deep sympathy on the death of Cathal Coughlan. To all of us who have known him, his sudden death at such an early age has been a profound shock. Like his brother Clement, whose sudden death three and a half years ago equally distressed the Dáil, he was a popular figure, bringing into this House the warmth of the Donegal spirit. All of us feel deeply for his wife and children, for his father and for the widow and children of his brother Clement for whom Cathal's death must have brought back all the trauma of that earlier tragedy. May he rest in peace.
Death of Member. - Expression of Sympathy.
I join with the Taoiseach in his tribute to the late Deputy Cathal Coughlan, whose untimely and unexpected death has saddened all the Members of this House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
During the short time he had been a Member of Dáil Éireann, Cathal Coughlan endeared himself to all, winning respect and forming personal friendships with Deputies on all sides of the House. On behalf of my colleagues and myself, may I thank all the Deputies from other parties who attended the funeral in Donegal yesterday.
Always courteous and good humoured, Cathal was the most kind and compassionate of men, concerned constantly about the welfare of others. He was a completely selfless man, interested in a kindly and sympathetic way in all those around him. He had a quiet sense of humour and an infectious smile and by his very presence he helped to make this House a congenial and friendly place for us all. He was a reliable, trustworthy and dependable colleague. His well informed contributions to our debates here on education, on Gaeltacht affairs and on regional development always commanded attention and respect.
When the people of Donegal South-West elected Cathal Coughlan three years ago, following the tragic death of his brother Clement, they chose wisely and well. They could not have had a more dedicated or more worthy representative in Dáil Éireann. He never ceased to work in their best interest, because he understood better than most that the real purpose of politics is to serve the people. Their great regret, as it is ours, will be that he will not be there at their service to continue to work for the people and the county whom he loved and served so well. But it is by his wife, Marian, and his young family that his loss will be felt most of all and whose sorrow and sense of loss we all share. On my own behalf and on behalf of Fianna Fáil, who in a real sense feel they have lost a good friend, I extend to them our most heartfelt sympathy.
Is mian liom thar ceann mo pháirtí agus ar mo shon féin comhbhrón ó chroí a ghabháil le bean agus muirín an Teachta Coughlan. Tá ball éifeachtach agus cara dílis caillte againn. Sonas siorraí dó.
I wish to express my deepest sympathy and that of the Labour Party to the wife and family of the late Deputy Cathal Coughlan. Although his career in Dáil Éireann was a short one, he had proved himself to be an able parliamentarian. He was a very popular Member of this House and was well respected by all sides.
We all share the deep sense of loss and tragedy of the Coughlan family, coming so soon after the untimely death of Deputy Clem Coughlan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
On behalf of the Progressive Democrats and on my own behalf, I should like to say we share the sense of sadness and loss which the tragic passing of Deputy Cathal Coughlan, after such a short time here, has caused to all Members. He was a very popular and respected Member of this House even though he was here for only a short time. The feeling of sadness we all have is accentuated greatly by our memory of the death of his brother Clement a few years ago, again after only a very short period in this House. I should like to join with other Members in offering to his wife and his family our very deep sympathy on their great tragedy.
Like all Members of the House, I, too, was shocked when I heard that Deputy Cathal Coughlan, whom we had seen so active around the House up to recently, was so seriously ill. His death brought a genuine sense of grief to all sides of the House. He was popular and respected by all parties. He will be remembered for his pleasant and courteous manner and his commitment to and concern for the people of Donegal. The Coughlan family have suffered a second great loss in a short number of years.
Thar ceann Páirtí na nOibrí, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a ghabháil don bhean, páistí agus clann uile Coughlan.
Members rose in their places.