I take this opportunity on behalf of the Fine Gael members to express our sympathy to the wife and family of the late former Taoiseach, Mr. Charles Haughey. I had the pleasure of serving alongside him in the Dáil for many years, and I knew him by his reputation, which was formidable, for many years previously. The occasion should not pass without expressing our sincere sympathy to his wife and family, as well as to the Fianna Fáil Party.
Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy.
I pass on my condolences to the wife and family of the late former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, and to our colleague, Deputy Haughey. It would be remiss of me not to mention that Charles Haughey was a very able seafaring man who had a great interest in boats. I vividly recall an incident in my constituency, off the Mizen Head, where he collided with a large rock. The rock won, and the boat sank. Perhaps I might take the liberty of explaining a little yarn that emanated from that.
The Baltimore life boat was launched. I knew the crew and the coxswain on that night, who was recently buried. On Mr. Haughey's way back in, when he had revived after a drop of brandy from a bottle, they were chatting. Mr. Haughey asked the coxswain if there were anything that he might do for him. The man had three requests. The first was that he badly needed a medical card. Mr. Haughey assured him that there would be no problem. The next issue was that he had four children and had been waiting for a house for nine years. Mr. Haughey guaranteed him that he would have the house very shortly.
His final request was that he would like a State funeral. Mr. Haughey scratched his head and said, "By God, it will be very difficult to provide you with a State funeral. Why would you want that?" He answered, "When I go home and tell my father who is a very staunch Fine Gael man that I rescued Charlie Haughey, I will be shot."
Mr. Haughey was full of humour and wit, and he left a great legacy in many areas, including the arts. I will not go into them now, but he was the Taoiseach of this country, and we should record our tributes to him. He loved Irish and the islands, and down in Dingle and Castletownbere, and on Oileán Cléire, he was highly respected and well received. He would still be a hero if he landed down in Dingle or out on Cape Clear. There are many happy memories of Mr. Haughey along the coast. As the marine area is part of the committee's function, it is right and proper that we should remember the positive and salient features of Mr. Haughey's life in his service to this country.
I wish to be associated with the condolences and sympathy to Mrs. Maureen Haughey and family on the death of the former Taoiseach, Mr. Charles J. Haughey. May he rest in peace.
I, too, extend my condolences to his wife, Maureen and to his children, especially our colleague, Deputy Seán Haughey. I became a member of the Fianna Fáil Party in 1989 at the same time as Seán — under the late Taoiseach, Deputy Charles J. Haughey, at the time. It was my great pleasure to serve with him and to work under him. I have said before that he was the best politician this country every produced. He was charismatic, humorous and also very tough. We often say when somebody dies, "Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís", and that is very true in this case.
As a member of the committee and on behalf of my colleagues in the Green Party, I pass on our sympathies, particularly to our colleague, Deputy Seán Haughey. As regards what Deputy O'Donovan said, I do not believe it was a little rock, but rather Mizen Head. He crashed into Mother Ireland, effectively. I know the place where that happened.
It was about the only thing that stopped him in his tracks.
It was.
I sympathise strongly with Mrs. Maureen Haughey and her children on behalf of the Labour Party and this committee and also offer condolences to our colleague, Deputy Seán Haughey who once stood in my constituency. He has represented the neighbouring constituency for the same length of time as I have been in Dáil Éireann. It is fair to say that the late former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, would have been interested in the business the committee is dealing with today. A very positive side of his contribution to Irish life was his desire for a major development for our country. This is an area in which he had a deep interest. I express my condolences.
I want to be associated with those remarks as well. I was a great admirer of the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, although I am from Cork. I came into the party just as he was assuming the leadership of Fianna Fáil. I express my sympathy to our colleague, Seán, and to the Haughey family. The sympathies of the committee will be recorded.