Vol. 455 No. 7
I regret I was unaware until now of the passing of a former parliamentary colleague, Deputy Paddy Keaveney. I am most anxious to pay an appropriate tribute to him, as has been done on previous occasions. I am sorry I did not take this initiative and am grateful to Deputy Harte for having brought it to the attention of the House.
I will pay my tribute now, if that is agreeable to the House.
I am sure that is agreed.
No doubt quite a number of Members will remember well the day former Deputy Keaveney was elected. This year an Independent candidate was elected without the aid or backing of any party, which was considered to have been an unprecedented event but it was not. The last occasion this happened was when former Deputy Keaveney was elected as an Independent Member for Donegal North East.
The former Deputy Paddy Keaveney, throughout a long portion of this career, was associated politically with Deputy Neil Blaney. Deputy Keaveney was a gentle person. Those of us who remember him here will recall that, whenever he spoke, which was not very frequently, he did so with a sense of conviction and in a very quiet, persuasive voice. While he represented the constituency — if I recollect correctly — being a native of Moville, he was particularly concerned with the needs of our largest peninsula, Inishowen, which he represented especially well.
On behalf of my party, who contested the election against former Deputy Keaveney without success on that occasion — and I am sure many others who may have crossed swords with him in Donegal County Council and elsewhere who, nonetheless, will have recognised him as a gentleman in politics — I should like to express our sympathy and that of the Government to his family and many friends on his sad passing.
I should like to express my party's sympathy to former Deputy Paddy Keaveney's widow and family.
As the Taoiseach said, while Deputy Keaveney's career here was brief, he continued to have a very distinguished career at local level, as a county councillor, as a very committed public representative of the people of Donegal and his constituency. He was elected to this House as an Independent but, later in his career, he returned to the fold, so to speak. Our colleagues from that area speak very warmly of his unceasing work and efforts on their behalf, with such great vigour, in his career in local government.
At the time of his death — because I was speaking about him on local radio in Donegal — I looked up the Official Report when I verified that subjects on which he spoke here were always those in connection with his constituency, when he did so with great vigour, defending their interests at national and local level. Prior to his death, his daughter took his seat on Donegal County Council and, therefore, the name and work tradition of his family in that area will be lovingly and conscientiously continued.
I wish to record our sympathy to his widow and family and our appreciation of the many long hours of duty he devoted to our party.
I wish to be associated with the remarks of the Taoiseach and Deputy O'Rourke, and on behalf of my parliamentary party, to extend our sympathy to the widow and family of the late Deputy Paddy Keaveney and to share their sorrow — and that of the people of Donegal generally — who have lost a public representative who served them well at national and local level for many years.
On my behalf and that of my party, I too would like to extend our sympathy to the widow and family of former Deputy Keaveney. He was mentioned in this House on the day Deputy Mildred Fox first took her seat when Deputy Blaney, with great pride, reminded us that Deputy Keaveney too had had a spectacular win as an Independent candidate in 1976.
Although the late Deputy Keaveney's term in this House was one year only, I am keenly aware that he was very much involved in the local politics of County Donegal, particularly, as Deputy O'Rourke said this morning, following his return to the fold.
While I did not know the late Deputy Keaveney, I agree with the Taoiseach that obviously in a very quiet, effective way he made an impact on the politics of Donegal. If he had not, he could not possibly have won a seat as an Independent in 1976.
On behalf of Democratic Left I should like to add my voice to the expressions of sympathy on the death of the late Deputy Paddy Keaveney and to convey our condolences to his widow and family.
In paying a tribute to the late Deputy Paddy Keaveney and extending our sympathy to his widow and family, as a constituency colleague of his, may I revert to his arrival in this House, when there was much turbulence in the country, particularly within the Fianna Fáil Party? Indeed his election to this House signalled a message from the people of Donegal that there were different opinions held on this side of the Border.
The late Deputy Keaveney was not an extreme politician. He was a man of gentle persuasion, great understanding and patience. I would have found myself very much at home in the same party as he, perhaps because we shared many interests and pursuits in County Donegal not really appreciated in southern parts of the country.
The presence of former Deputy Keaveney here was a reminder to everyone that on this island there is conflict, that he was elected here because of conflict and I have no doubt that, if he had been elected in normal times, his tenure here would have been much longer than one year. His passing has left the people of Donegal, particularly the people of Inishowen, the poorer but I am sure they will remember him fondly for the service he rendered them. I know they will appreciate what I said, that if he had been elected in more normal times, his contribution and service would have been of longer, greater benefit.
I should like to be associated with the messages of sympathy to the late Deputy Keaveney's widow and family.
Paddy Keaveney was a gentle, family man, interested in local politics, particularly in those evolving around the Border. I agree with Deputy Harte, that if he had been elected at a different time, he would probably have continued to have been a Member of this House, and I would not be here. As Deputy O'Rourke said, since he returned to the fold in 1991, the late Paddy Keaveney was nothing if not helpful to our party in Donegal North-East. He came from a large family that enjoyed longevity. He is the first of the 12 children in his family to pass away. His death was unexpected but we are happy that he had his last wish in that his daughter, Celia, has been co-opted to Donegal County Council. We are looking forward to co-operating with her and with the other parties in Donegal North East in the coming years. I would like to be associated with the sympathy extended to his wife and family.
Ar mo shon féin agus ar son an Chomhaontais Ghlais, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le bean chéile agus clann an t-iar Theachta Paddy Keaveney agus lena cháirde go léir. Is léir gur duine as cuimse a bhí ann, mar is annamh gur féidir le duine neamhspleach fothoghchán a bhuachan. Is dócha gur leatromach an saol é go bhfuair sé bás go luath tar éis do iarrthóir neamhspleach eile fothoghchán a bhuachan.
Members rose.
May I ask Deputy O'Dea if it is his intention to——
A Cheann Comhairle——
Order. The Chair is addressing the House. Is it Deputy O'Dea's intention to move a Private Members' Bill pertaining to victim support?
Yes.
