Having spoken about a former Deputy whom we did not know well, we speak now about the former Deputy Tom McEllistrim, whom most Members on this side of the House will remember well. He served in the House for many years and gave loyal and faithful service to the Fianna Fáil Party.
Tom came from a strong republican tradition which saw his father serve valiantly in the War of Independence and subsequently in Dáil Éireann from 1923 to 1969. Tom then served the people of north Kerry for more than 20 years with the same determination, dedication and loyalty. Tom's son continues that political tradition at local level.
Tommy Mac had a great love of his church, community, sport, county, politics and his family. His loss is a loss for all his loves. He was never slow about expressing his views and was prepared to speak out strongly in this House, at local level and in the parliamentary party, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will recall. He led the way in many debates, particularly when arguing for the south west and his native north Kerry.
Tom was born on 15 January 1932 and he became a member of the county council in 1967, where he served with distinction until 1992. He lost his seat for one term following a close election which will be remembered well by Deputy Spring. That was the subject of many stories and Tommy enjoyed telling those stories as much as anybody else. I have heard so many different versions, I am not sure which one is true. He continued to have a very strong interest and relationship with Fianna Fáil. A farewell, political party gathering was due to take place last Friday week but it was cancelled a few weeks ago as his health was deteriorating. He was proud to become a Minister of State at the Department of Finance in 1979-81, where he had responsibility for the Office of Public Works, and at the Department of Fisheries and Forestry in 1982. When I was a young Deputy the Office of Public Works was introducing mobile exchanges, which was a major issue, and I found him to be a very helpful Minister of State.
Rural funerals can be large but the size of Tom's funeral speaks for itself. The crowd filed past his coffin to his family from 4.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m., something that would not happen in this city. This was an enormous tribute and respect to him.
I was asked about my stories of Tom McEllistrim by Radio Kerry and I gave a few good ones. I remember in 1978 as a young Member of 25 years of age, and not having much experience of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party rooms, hearing Tom announce that the civil war in Kerry had ended. This struck me as peculiar but, as I got to know him over the years, I began to understand the way he saw things. He was a good man and people will tend to remember him for his support for Charles Haughey. He was a tremendous and hard worker for his constituents. He served very well on local issues. Through the years, even since his departure from politics, his interventions were in regard to schools, roads and local authority issues and people will always have memories of him in that regard. His family would like him remembered for the way he served the people of north Kerry and the work he did. Appreciation was shown by all sides of the political divide by the attendance at his funeral last week.
He carried the flag of Fianna Fáil straight and blunt. He was not a person who went under the counter about standing up for people and was respected by everyone. The Fianna Fáil Party extends its sympathies to his wife Marie, son Thomas and daughter Ann and is thankful for Tom's loyal service and to his family for allowing him give so much to the Fianna Fáil Party through the years.