Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 2001

Vol. 168 No. 26

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

Mr. Cassidy

It is with regret that I say the following on behalf of the Houses. Last Friday, the death of our very esteemed former Member and Leader of the House, Eoin Ryan senior, occurred. Eoin was born in Dublin on 12 June 1920 at a time when his father and mother were actively engaged in the War of Independence. His father, Dr. Jim Ryan, was a founder member of Fianna Fáil and attended to James Connolly at the GPO in 1916 when he was a medical student.

Eoin was educated at Presentation College, Bray, and later at Mount St. Joseph's College, Roscrea. He joined the Defence Forces during the emergency years and rose to the rank of captain between 1940 and 1943. He later returned to his studies at UCD, achieving a BA in economics and diploma in public administration. He went on to study at King's Inns and was called to the bar in 1945.

Throughout this time, Eoin had an intense interest in politics although, unlike his father, who was a Minister for most of his 30 years in the Dáil, Eoin was reluctant to enter full-time politics. He preferred putting his views forward in the Seanad and the governing bodies of the party, where he served for many years on the national executive and as vice president of Fianna Fáil. Eoin was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1957, winning a seat on the Labour panel, although he switched to the Industrial and Commercial panel in 1961. He continued to serve in the Upper House until 1978. For four of these years, from 1965 to 1969, his father was also a Senator serving in the House, after his retirement from the Dáil.

During his long and distinguished career in the Seanad, Eoin served on numerous committees, including the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments from 1957 to 1959, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges from 1973 to 1981, the Dáil and Seanad Legislation of European Communities from 1973 to 1977, and the Committee on State-Sponsored Bodies from 1978 to 1981, of which he was chairman. He was Leader of the Seanad from 1977 to 1981 and leader of the Fianna Fáil group from 1973 to 1977. During his life he displayed qualities of honesty, integrity, wisdom, humility and wonderful self-control. He was an excellent listener and, as a Senator, he set a great example.

Eoin was an ardent supporter of Ireland, playing a full role in European affairs, and he represented Ireland at the Council of Europe in the 1960s. He was also active in the Irish council of the European Movement and was its chairman in the crucial pre-EEC years, 1971 to 1973. In commercial life he will always be associated with the New Ireland Assurance Company of which he was chairman for many years. Other companies of which he was a director at various times included Jefferson Smurfit, Lyons Irish Holdings, the Ulster Investment Bank, PV Doyle Hotels, the Smith Group and Aran Energy. He also served as Governor of the Central Bank after his retirement from politics.

Eoin Ryan's dedication to Fianna Fáil and its aims throughout his long and active life is legendary. As an officer of the party and friend and adviser to many taoisigh and Ministers, his importance to the Fianna Fáil organisation was far greater than his official role. I was privileged to enjoy his friendship and advice through the years. One would wonder how Eoin could give so much time to Joan and their children, his legal career, his political career, his business responsibilities as well as Northern Ireland, Europe and South Africa. He was a true democrat who passionately believed in human dignity, which he saw as a right every citizen of the world should have and he played an active and effective part in the anti-apartheid movement. In spite of his many activities he managed to give a great deal of time to the theatre, arts and to the poet, Paddy Kavanagh.

We can truthfully say of Eoin Ryan that he was a man of great integrity, honesty, compassion and humility. He was a wonderful husband and an excellent father, a truly great Irishman who left a great legacy to the House. On behalf of all Members, the Fianna Fáil group which I lead, and on my own behalf, I extend our heartfelt sympathies and deep regret to his beloved wife Joan, to whom he was married for over 50 years, his sons James, Eoin and Mark, and his daughter Derbhail, as well as his brother Dr. Seamus Ó Riain and his sister Nuala Culligan, to his daughters-in-law and all his grandchildren and friends. Go ndéanadh Dia trocaire ar a anam.

Mr. Manning

Fine Gael would like to be associated with these expressions of sympathy. Senator Eoin Ryan spent 30 years as a Member of this House, many of those as Leader. He was everything a good Senator should be. He was thoughtful, well-informed and an expert in areas such as the law, insurance and business while also knowing a great deal about most other areas of life.

Eoin Ryan took the House seriously and the House took him seriously. When he spoke, people listened and his words carried weight. It could even be said that he looked like what the ideal Senator should look like. He had a sense of presence and exuded gravitas and in his calm, thoughtful and fair-minded way, he was the part of a Senator. This was all achieved without his ever becoming pompous or taking himself too seriously.

Eoin came from a great political tradition. His father was one of the most effective Ministers in all the de Valera Cabinets and made the transition without difficulty into the Lemass era. He was probably the politician most trusted by Seán Lemass and the one whose judgment Lemass most respected. The Ryans were a Civil War family, with members on both sides of the political divide, but there was never any sense of bitterness or any attempt to exploit Civil War memories. On the contrary, theirs was a family of reconciliation.

Eoin Ryan was a man of great natural courtesy and impeccable good manners. He was a man of principle who was prepared to take the stand when many others bowed with the prevailing wind. Most of all, he was a decent man who served this House and Irish politics with distinction. I extend sympathy on behalf of Fine Gael to his wife, Joan, his son Eoin who served in this House, and the rest of his family.

Mr. Ross

I was privileged to serve in this House with Eoin Ryan for a short time. While he will be remembered as a businessman and a barrister, it is as a politician that this House remembers him today.

As Senators Cassidy and Manning have said, he should be remembered as a committed Senator. I know of no instance when he stated a wish to leave this House as he had a great commitment to it and did not wish to become a Member of the other House. We should admire his commitment which manifested itself in the good work he did here, including the pioneering of legislation. He was a rare creature insofar as he was almost non-partisan, despite the fact that he was leader of his party in this House. I wish to be as complimentary as possible when I say that it was difficult to see his partisanship as Leader of the Opposition here. He considered issues on their merits and was utterly fair when making judgments. I cannot remember a political row in which the late Senator Ryan was involved as he was a cut above the rest of us, to an extent.

I remember him as a businessman. Senator Cassidy referred to the fact that New Ireland Assurance was successful under his chairmanship and the company was associated with Eoin Ryan more than anyone else at that time. He was also a director of the Smurfit Group.

He showed enormous political courage on occasions, for example, by being a liberal within his party at a time when liberal ideas were not fashionable. When he was leader of Fianna Fáil in this House, he showed courage by taking a different line to that of his party on certain issues, which was a difficult thing to do. The affection and respect he had in the wider community meant that he could survive such a difficulty. On behalf of the Independent Senators, I would like to be associated with the words of sympathy to Eoin Ryan's family.

Mr. Costello

The Labour Party in the Seanad would like to express its sympathy to the wife and family of the former Senator Eoin Ryan and to be associated with the expressions of sympathy that have been made here. The Leader of the House has rehearsed the extensive and comprehensive career of the late Senator, as a politician during 30 years in this House and as a lawyer. Above all other Senators, the remarks I have heard about Eoin Ryan have always been complimentary.

Most politicians coming to the Oireachtas for a career in politics hope to serve in the other House, but the late Senator served in this House only, which shows the respect he had for the Seanad, to which he made a fine contribution. The Ryan family, including Eoin Ryan's father and sons, were involved in many of the events of the 20th century, including the War of Independence, the Civil War and the founding of the Fianna Fáil Party. The family has had considerable participation in Irish politics, business and the arts.

I have often heard people refer to Eoin Ryan's broad mindedness, independence of thought and vision. He was a true democrat and he made an enormous contribution to Irish politics. I am glad that his son, Eoin, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, is continuing that tradition. He has embarked on the national drugs strategy which is the most comprehensive drugs policy ever developed. I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Dardis

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats I wish to be associated with the tributes expressed by Members and to record our sympathy on the death of Eoin Ryan who was a person in the first rank of political and legal life. He came from a distinguished political family. The Leader has enumerated Eoin Ryan's many achievements. It is an achievement to sit as a Member of this House for 30 years, not to mention his time as Leader of the House and his other distinctions. It must be unique for a father and son to serve together on these benches. The late Eoin Ryan must also have been proud of his son's achievement on becoming a Minister of State.

The late Eoin Ryan was a man of grace and courtesy and he was a liberal in the best and traditional sense of the word. He was deeply committed to democracy and the diversity of ideas. He was also committed to the right of people to articulate their differences and resolve them by democratic means. He was a man of absolute integrity. For all these reasons his family deserve our sympathy. We express our sympathy to his wife, Joan, and his children, particularly to the Minister of State, Deputy Eoin Ryan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. J. Doyle

I am privileged to join the tributes to the late Eoin Ryan. I served with him in the Houses of the Oireachtas between 1982 and 1987, but I knew him best for his political activities in Dublin South-East where I had many friendly tussles with his son, Eoin. I use the word "friendly" deliberately because the late Eoin Ryan set high standards in politics and fair play and his family was always dignified in victory and defeat.

The election of his son, Eoin, to Dáil Éireann in 1992 was a great source of joy to the late Eoin Ryan. It was a privilege to have known him and I offer my deepest sympathy to his wife, Joan, and to his family.

Mr. Walsh

I wish to join the genuine tributes and expressions of sympathy on the death of Dr. Eoin Ryan. The name Ryan has been synonymous with politics and public life in Wexford since the foundation of the State. Eoin's father, Dr. Jim Ryan, was involved in the War of Independence, but also played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of our democracy during his various Ministries. He also had the distinction of being the last Wexford Fianna Fáil politician to hold ministerial office when he served his last term as Minister for Finance.

The late Eoin Ryan was a man of integrity and knowledge. He was also a gentleman whose wise counsel was sought and available to many. He derived particular satisfaction from the fact that his son followed in the family tradition and he was proud to see him hold ministerial office. I extend my sympathy to his wife, Joan, and to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

An Cathaoirleach

I wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Senator Eoin Ryan and to express my sympathy to his widow and family.

Members rose.