Before coming to the Order of Business the House will hear expressions of sympathy on the death of the former British Prime Minister, Lord Harold Wilson.
Death of Former British Prime Minister: Expression of Sympathy.
It is with a sense of sadness that, on behalf of my party, I pay tribute to the late Lord Wilson, former British Prime Minister. He represented the constituency of Huyton which I believe has one of the largest Irish communities in Britain. He had a long-standing interest in Ireland and a practical interest in the benefits that could be accrued for Irish people as a result of good Anglo-Irish relations.
At the age of 31, having had a brilliant academic career — he was one of the most brilliant people of his generation in Oxford University — he was appointed as President of the Board of Trade one of the youngest Cabinet members in the history of British Government. During his long ministerial career he had to face many difficulties — some of which have returned to cause problems for his successors in Britain and elsewhere — not least of which was the appropriate valuation to place on his currency and the difficulties faced by any serving politician in Government in answering questions on a matter of that subtlety. He was also a man who was not afraid to face a difficult debate in the House of Commons. On a number of occasions when particularly severe cuts had to be introduced, to sustain what probably turned out to be an unsustainable currency policy, because of his sense of courage and commitment to his colleagues, Harold Wilson as Prime Minister, insisted he would give the bad news to the House of Commons and face the criticisms.
He was the subject of many criticisms; phrases he used in difficult situations throughout his life were turned to his disadvantage in subsequent criticism. It is important, however, to draw attention to his personal qualities. One of his most trenchant opponents throughout his political career in the Labour Party was a present member of the House of Commons, Mr. Tony Benn. Speaking of Harold Wilson and the way he dealt with colleagues at a personal level, Tony Benn said he was an extremely kind man, probably one of the kindest persons he had ever met. Such a statement from a person who was a strong opponent in a deeply turbulent party throughout their relationship is an indication of the personal quality and compassion of Harold Wilson in his dealings with other people.
As a member of Government his achievements were notable. Having studied his career for other purposes, probably one of his most notable achievements in terms of personal pride was the establishment of the Open University, something from which we have benefited. That achievement was a notable application of technology to the improvement of the lives of ordinary people who do not have the privilege of attending university on a residential basis. That initiative by him effected an improvement in the quality of the lives not only of British people but also of the people of this island because of the access to that facility we enjoy.
With the exception of Lady Thatcher, he was the longest serving British Prime Minister this century. He represented a constituency with a large number of Irish people and, therefore, took a special interest in Irish issues. He took decisive action in 1969 in bringing troops to the streets in Northern Ireland and in so doing saved the lives of an incalculable number of people who otherwise may have lost their lives as a result of a breakdown in security. That cannot have been an easy decision, but it was most assuredly a correct and courageous one. Some will say, with justification, he did not show a similar determination subsequently when the Ulster Workers Council strike threatened the viability of the Sunningdale Executive. That criticism is valid. Perhaps part of the problem was that this Sunningdale Executive had been agreed to by a previous Prime Minister and was undermined by the intervening general election results in Northern Ireland which appeared to deny that Executive the confidence of the people there. That is an example of how one should not allow the exigencies of party political change or transition to interfere with sound settled policy in the national interest. This is a measure all of us in this House, whatever our controversies — and there will be many — ought to recall.
Harold Wilson did many other things in the course of his career which were particularly beneficial to this country. He agreed the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement of 1966 with the late Seán Lemass, with whom he enjoyed a particularly good personal relationship, one of the best relationships between two Prime Ministers of these two islands for many years. As we all know, that agreement opened up this economy ultimately to Europe. Finally, he was responsible for the return of the remains of Roger Casement to this country, a matter of symbolism, some might say, but a matter of reconciling symbolism of great importance for the improvement of relations between our two islands.
I join with all those who will now pay tribute to the late Harold Wilson in conveying the sympathy of this House to his wife, Mary. Mary Wilson obviously suffered a great deal during the course of her husband's career both in terms of the criticism she had to face and the isolation from her husband which was forced upon her by his duties. At this time, in the evening of her life, having borne with him in a long and trying deteriorating illness, the feelings and sympathy of this House should go to her and her family.
I join with the Taoiseach in expressing the sympathy of our party to the wife of the Late Lord Wilson and to his family. The Taoiseach touched on many of the highlights of his career as a politician. There are others to which I would like to lend my voice, in particular his achievement in regard to the Open University which provided an opportunity for ordinary men and women to enter third level education. That it became so popular so quickly and that other countries had access to it is a mark of great achievement for him.
Another matter on which he had a huge influence was equal opportunities legislation. He was particularly strong in pursuing that type of legislation and, under his premiership, labour legislation received a major boost. Harold Wilson also introduced the system of appeal against unfair dismissal which, at that time, was a very innovative idea. As is the practice in so many matters of a political and administrative nature, that system subsequently became law here too. He had great vision on the rights of people and had many qualities as an industrial innovator, but his efforts in ensuring the rights of ordinary people in the workforce has left a lasting impression on a body of legislative reforms both in the UK and Ireland.
Harold Wilson was a great a believer in state intervention in industrial matters, and while there were many positive aspects to his career in the period from 1967-69, some had the idea that he had gone too far in regard to state intervention and a hands-on policy in that respect. He had many different encounters with Ireland. I believe he visited here in 1969 and met an ex-colleague of ours, the former Minister, John O'Connell, on one or two occasions. Little came of those meetings but that was another indication of how Harold Wilson was prepared to look at matters in a different way. He did not always follow the sure and easy path.
Harold Wilson, at the age of 48, was the youngest member of the Cabinet and the youngest political head of the Board of Trade. He had many far-seeing ideas. I note particularly his achievements in regard to science and technology. His now famous speech at a party conference, to the effect that industry in Britain had to feel the white heat of technology, led to an awakening of industrial minds in regard to the unexplored area of research and technology which proved to be such fertile ground later.
Our sympathies go to Lord Wilson's wife, who withstood many distresses in her life due to the exigencies of public life. One of Harold Wilson's most famous phrases was: "A week is a long time in politics".
I know what that means.
Deputy O'Rourke also knows what it means.
We would all say that an hour can be a long time in politics. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
On behalf of the Labour Party I express the deep regret and sympathy of our party on the death of Lord Wilson to his widow, Mary, to his family and to his party colleagues.
Harold Wilson was elected to Parliament in 1945. He remained in Parliament for the remaining 50 years of his life, 38 years in the House of Commons and 12 years in the House of Lords. He was an outstanding leader of the Labour Party from 1963 to 1976. During that period he won four general elections, more than any other leader this century. He was Prime Minister at a time of economic and industrial relations difficulties and of tremendous social change in Britain, a time when the vestiges of Britain's colonial influences were waning and when the importance of Europe was coming to centre stage. It was a time when the impact of the media on politics became even greater.
Harold Wilson led a Labour Party Government to power after 13 years of Conservative Government. His time as Prime Minister was a period of tremendous challenge and achievement. That record of achievement, particularly in the social policy field referred to, will stand as a monument to Harold Wilson and to the Labour Party he led with such distinction in Government.
I will not attempt to review the whole of Harold Wilson's political life this morning but I would draw particular attention to just one aspect of it, that during his terms as Prime Minister, through both free votes and Government legislation, Parliament tackled a breathtaking range of social reforms. That period saw the establishment of the English and Scottish law commissions; the abolition of the death penalty for murder in 1965; the establishment of the office of Parliamentary Ombudsman in 1967; the setting up of the Open University referred to by the Taoiseach and Deputy O'Rourke; the decriminalisation of homosexual acts and the enactment of a raft of family legislation, including the Divorce Reform Act of 1969 which rationalised the grounds for divorce.
Above all, in the social field, Harold Wilson saw the enactment of wide-ranging equality legislation beginning with the Race Relations Act of 1965, a further Race Relations Act in 1968, the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the wideranging Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 which covered, among other areas, discrimination in goods, services and facilities and which also established the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Harold Wilson was a gigantic figure in British politics. His legacy is deep and enduring. His work as Prime Minister and throughout his whole career was informed by a deep sense of morality, of purpose and vision. He promised change and renewal and delivered on that promise until the last day he held office. We will all miss him very much. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Ba mhaith liom that cheann an Pháirtí Daonlathaigh ar gcomhbhrón a chur in iúl do Bhean Harold Wilson as ucht an briseadh mór dí.
On behalf of the Progressive Democrats Party, I join with the Taoiseach and Members in extending our sincere sympathy to the wife, family and friends of the late Harold Wilson, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain. All involved in politics know the price that has to be paid by the family. Harold Wilson made a particularly special contribution to politics in his own country. We can recall the excitement and the great hope that blossomed when he came to office because of his unique appeal. His was a special contribution. There was a shift in the relationship between Ireland and Great Britain during that period. We have to record today that Harold Wilson played a major role in helping to build better relationships and create a friendlier atmosphere between the Governments of Ireland and Great Britain. The large number of Irish people in his constituency may have given him this special understanding. It is appropriate on the occasion of his sad passing to his eternal reward that we should express our appreciation for the work he has done.
He faced many major problems and history will record whether all his decisions were correct. Today we can say that he made a very valuable contribution.
I was pleased to hear the reference to the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement of 1966. I participated in that debate and the treaty did not receive praise from all sides of the House but history has shown that a good job was done. In his memoirs Harold Wilson referred to the tough Irish negotiators and how he thought they had done better than the team he was leading. I thought he paid a nice tribute to the then Taoiseach, Mr. Seán Lemnass, and to Jack Lynch and Charles Haughey, the three principal negotiators on Ireland's behalf on that occasion. He has left a legacy that his family can be proud of and which we deeply appreciate. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
On behalf of Democratic Left I join with my colleagues in other parties in conveying our sympathy to the wife and family of the late Harold Wilson and to his colleagues in the British Labour Party.
Harold Wilson was an outstanding political leader with a keen intellect and a shrewdness essential for success in politics. Some of his critics have described him as a manipulative man but a fairer verdict is that he was a superb political tactician who was able to use the strength of his allies and exploit the weaknesses of his opponents. Perhaps his greatest achievement following his election as leader in the early 1960s was to restore the sense of self-belief to the Labour Party which was at a low ebb after almost 15 years in Opposition. That he led his party at four general elections in what were often the most difficult political and economic circumstances is an achievement almost without parallel in modern British politics. That he did this despite the fact that his own party was often riven with internal dissent is testimony to his political skill.
He had a genuine interest in Irish affairs and often liked to boast there were more Irish people living in his Liverpool constituency than in most Dáil constituencies. He was the first British Prime Minister for more than 40 years to have to deal with the problem of violence in Northern Ireland. If I did not always agree with his political judgment as to how it should be handled, there was no denying his genuine concern for the people of this island.
Harold Wilson was very much a man of the post-war era in Great Britain and came to epitomise British politics of the 1960s. One of his more enduring monuments from which thousands of Irish people continue to benefit is the Open University, one of his own initiatives. Harold Wilson was a unique figure among British Prime Ministers in that he voluntarily departed the political stage and determined the time and circumstances of his going. He will be remembered for many pithy sayings. "A week is a long time in politics" is one of the most memorable and it is likely he did not reckon with Irish politics when he thought up that.
He will be remembered for his many achievements that have been outlined already. I convey my sympathy to his family and friends.
On behalf of the Independent Group and my Green Party colleagues in Britain, who do not have an elected representative in that parliament, I join in the expressions of sympathy on the death of Lord Wilson. I have largely childhood memories of the late Harold Wilson but for all that they are vivid. His sure and confident voice and his perennial pipe marked him as somebody who belonged to an age different from today's age of Government health warnings. He is to be remembered as someone who came from modest beginnings, a working class background. Through his personal achievements and determination he leaves a fitting legacy for all, not just those in political life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasail.
Members rose.