It is with great regret that I propose a vote of sympathy to the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Mary Hanafin, the Leahy family and Senator John Hanafin, a young member of the committee, on the untimely death of Mr. Eamon Leahy. He was a brilliant man who made an enormous contribution to the Judiciary, the Legislature and the political system. He was one of the brightest people in public life and he achieved a great deal in a short time. This is a great loss for his wife, Deputy Mary Hanafin, our friend and colleague. Who would have anticipated on the day the Dáil went into recess what would happen before the next sitting day? I propose a suspension of the sitting for five minutes as a mark of respect to the Hanafin and Leahy families and their friends. We all felt a loss. I had to stop my car when I heard the news because I could not believe it. It was unimaginable.
Expressions of Sympathy.
On behalf of the Fine Gael, I wish to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the Government Chief Whip on the death of her husband, Eamon Leahy, and to the Hanafin and Leahy families. While I did not know him well, I had great respect for his capacity in the legal area and I was aware of the contribution he made to political life over a number of years. I support the suspension of the sitting as a mark of respect.
My colleague, Deputy Lynch, and I wish to be associated, on behalf of the Labour Party, with the vote of sympathy. All of us were absolutely shocked at the news. It was a shocking occurrence. I knew Eamon Leahy and crossed swords with him on many occasions on the public airwaves. We enjoyed a social drink following a number of those debates. As the Chairman rightly said, he was one of the brightest people in the legal profession, universally expected to become a future Attorney General, and above all the husband and confidante of the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Hanafin. To all her colleagues and family and to our colleague, Senator Hanafin, we send our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity on their shock and loss.
On my behalf and on behalf of the Technical Group I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the Chief Whip on the death of her husband. I did not know the man but I have known Mary for many years and always had a great relationship with her and got on well with her. I have a high regard for her and was shocked to hear the news. I also express my sympathy with Senator Hanafin.
I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the Hanafin and Leahy families, particularly to Mary, his wife. This was an awful shock to all of us. May he rest in peace.
I too wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the esteemed Chief Whip, Senator Hanafin, and the Leahy family. We learned with great shock of the death of this distinguished man last weekend. Something like that puts a lot in perspective. I offer my sincerest sympathy to the families concerned and to the Chief Whip in particular.
I knew Eamon Leahy and if he were watching he would like something to be done with a certain amount of wit. He was a wit who brought laughter to the legal and political worlds in his witty speeches for various Ministers. He was a marvellous man and we all miss him.
I wish to be associated with members' expressions of sympathy to the Chief Whip and Senator Hanafin on the death of Eamon Leahy. I did not know him but from what I have read and heard he was obviously a wonderful individual and his passing will be mourned not just by the Chief Whip but by everyone who knew him.
I wish to be associated with all speakers expressions of sympathy to Mary and John. I did not know Eamon Leahy save by reputation. As Deputy Howlin said, death is always shocking but when it comes to one so young and brilliant it is probably more incomprehensible, particularly for John who is sitting next to me. My sympathy to both families.
I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy on the death of Eamon Leahy. I had the honour of knowing him quite well and as Deputy Lenihan said, he was always full of good humour. He was always good company and a great storyteller. Only two Sundays ago I had drinks with him and could not believe the news when I heard it. My sympathy to John and Mary and their families.
I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy, particularly to our esteemed colleague the Chief Whip and to Des, Mona, John and their family, as well as the Leahy family and to the chairman of the Bar Council, who were here last week. They are also shocked by this great loss.
There is a saying that six months after someone dies, who misses them the most? It is usually the people who were closest to them. Life goes on, which is probably the great thing about the human condition. His wife will probably miss him most because she is the one who has to go on without him. To him and to the families I extend my deepest sympathies.
I thank everyone who spoke. Eamon is a great loss to us and we will miss him deeply. I thank members for all their concern and the care they have shown; it is a great help at this time.
Members rose.
The joint committee suspended at 3.35 p.m. and resumed at 3.40 p.m.
I welcome the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, whom I know wishes to be associated with the vote of sympathy.
I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy in respect of the late Eamon Leahy, husband of the Chief Whip and brother-in-law of Senator Hanafin. Eamon Leahy was a larger than life figure in many respects. Apart from being a brilliant lawyer and someone who put enormous energy into assisting the Irish State with law reform, he was also extremely bright, intelligent and witty. His sense of humour, wit and laughter were often aimed at himself. He was not someone who was witty at the expense of others; he was often self-deprecating in his humour. Things such as the Criminal Assets Bureau are lasting monuments to his ingenuity and sense of fairness and justice in our community. In the forthcoming Dáil session I hope to bring through Dáil Éireann a criminal justice Bill which encapsulates a lot of the work he and his fellow members carried out as part of a committee advising the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
I want to say in particular to Senator Hanafin that, having known Eamon Leahy for all of my life as a practising barrister and through politics, and having got the opportunity to share some of his magnificent characteristics, I know the Hanafin family must feel devastated by his loss. The Irish State is at a loss, not just at the loss of his services as a great lawyer, but the Irish political system for the loss of his services as a trusted and brilliant adviser. I want to be identified completely with everything that has been said by members of the committee in respect of Eamon Leahy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm uasal.