Before I announce the matters on the Adjournment I propose to call the leaders on expressions of sympathy on the death of the late Joe Farrell, a former Member of this and the other House whose death occurred yesterday.
Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.
It is with sadness that I express my deepest sympathy to the wife and family of the late Joe Farrell who proudly served in Seanad Éireann from 1961 to 1973. He was a Deputy from 1973 until 1981. He was elected to the Seanad on the Labour Panel. He was also a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges during those years. He was a member of Louth County Council in 1955 and Dundalk UDC, where he was chairman on three occasions. He was a member of Louth County Committee of Agriculture from 1963 to 1967 and the Eastern Regional Tourism Organisation from 1964.
Joe was proud to represent his native community, which he served with great vigour and distinction. He was also very proud of his Irish heritage and was a member of the Fourth Northern Division and an old IRA veteran. He was a great personal friend of the late Frank Aiken and was director of elections in many of his very successful election campaigns.
He was born in the early part of the century but he served down the years and contributed to the massive changes in Irish society during the terms of his membership of both the Dáil and the Seanad. He was highly valued, not only within the Fianna Fáil Party but also by those of all political persuasions within the Houses of the Oireachtas. On behalf of Seanad Éireann and the Fianna Fáil Party in the House I offer my sincerest sympathy to his wife Margaret, his brothers and sister and nephews and nieces. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam.
I join in the expression of sympathy to the late Mr. Farrell. He lived a long and very full life – his age was almost that of the century. He was 68 when he was first elected to the Dáil, so that should hold out hope for people who have tried and tried again.
As the Leader has said, he was very close to the late Frank Aiken. He was, in fact, Frank Aiken's man in County Louth during many of those years and Frank Aiken relied very heavily on him for advice about the constituency and on other matters.
I met him only once when I had a very long chat with him. I found him a very forthright and direct man, a man with a great deal of experience and wisdom. He lived a long and full life, a life of service to his community and to his party. I extend my sympathy to Fianna Fáil and to his family.
On behalf of the Independent Benches I offer our condolences to the family of the late former Senator and Deputy, Joe Farrell. I also extend our condolences to the Fianna Fáil Party. He continued the job of public representation until his 75th year. Doubtless he had a good innings. He made his contribution and had a huge commitment.
I never had the pleasure of meeting him. It is important that those of us in the House who did not know people always recognise the contribution made by our predecessors.
I note he was a painter. Dundalk was one of the main seedbeds of the development of the painters' union and I take it for granted he was an activist in the union before he became a public representative.
On behalf of the Labour Party I, too, would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy and to offer our condolences to the family of the late Joe Farrell. As the Leader said, he served in both Houses and made a life long contribution to politics. He served on the Labour panel which was one of his primary interests. He also served in local politics and held the chairmanship of the UDC in Dundalk for three years, which is an indication of the high esteem in which he was held in his native county. He also served on Louth County Council for a short time. He made a contribution to national and local politics. His life spanned almost a century. He witnessed the beginning of the State and almost witnessed the final solution to matters of major national importance with which he was very much involved during his activities with the old IRA. He was, as has been said, a great friend of Frank Aiken and that is where his loyalties lay.
I offer our sympathies to his family and the Fianna Fáil Party.
On behalf of the Progress Democrats, I wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Joe Farrell and to express our sympathy to his family and colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party. It is obvious he made an enormous contribution to national and local political life and, indeed, on the wider stage also. He was one of the few people left who could look back to the struggle for independence. I am sure he was very proud of that and it would have been the origins of his association with Frank Aiken. I extend our sympathy to his family and colleagues.
I served with Joe Farrell on Louth County Council from 1979 onwards. He was a very honourable, decent and hardworking man. He served with great diligence as chairman of the North-Eastern Health Board for many years. Everyone respected him. He epitomised people at the beginning of the century who worked hard for what they believed in. He was totally and absolutely committed to the creed of Fianna Fáil and believed if one was outside that fold there was no salvation. He was a man of great integrity. He was extremely friendly with the former Minister, Padraig Faulkner, and was a mentor to the late Tom Bellew, who served as a Fianna Fáil Deputy for some years. His spirit will always be strong and respected in County Louth.
I would also like to be associated with the tributes to the late Joe Farrrell and to join in the expressions of sympathy to his family.
Members rose.