Is le fíor-bhrón a chuala mé mar gheall ar bhás Shéamuis Mhic Giobúin, Gaeilgeoir, feirmeoir, polaiteoir, agus fear léinn, roimh an Nollaig. It was with deep regret we learned before Christmas of the death of Mr. Jim Gibbons, a former distinguished Member of this House and of the Fianna Fáil Party. Although it was always understated, Jim was a man of powerful intellect and he possessed tremendous personal commitment to his role as a representative of the people in his native Carlow-Kilkenny.
As a member of Kilkenny County Council from 1954 to 1967, Jim learned at first hand the concerns and aspirations of his constituents. His stint as a member of Kilkenny County Committee of Agriculture, which he chaired from 1955 to 1965, and his membership of the National Farmers' Association, now the Irish Farmers' Association, served as a good apprenticeship for his two periods as Minister for Agriculture.
From the time of his election to Dáil Éireann in 1957, Jim rose steadily through the ranks as a member of committees of this House, as parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance and then as Minister for Defence, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Opposition spokesman on agriculture and again as Minister for Agriculture from 1977 to 1979. Interleaved with his distinguished career in this House was his career in Europe, as a member of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, an excellent MEP from 1973 to 1977 and a high profile member of that Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Public Health and Environment. In all the high offices he held, Jim demonstrated great administrative ability and superb negotiating skills.
As Minister for Agriculture in the early 1970s, Jim played a key role in the agricultural side of EEC membership negotiations and also in the commencement of the process of amalgamation of the State's creameries. During his second period as Minister for Agriculture he successfully solved the difficult problem of access of Irish lamb to the French market within months of taking office. That was a substantial achievement which formed the basis for the subsequent massive development of the sheep industry and of which he was immensely proud.
One could not but admire the deep personal courage he showed in facing political adversity during his career — he experienced many difficult times — and more recently his calm fortitude in coping with his failing health over a long period. The sad loss of his son Michael three years ago was a heavy cross indeed on Jim and his family. To Jim's widow, Margaret, his four surviving sons, especially our colleague, Senator Jim, chairman of the Progressive Democrats Party, and former Deputy Martin, and their six daughters, I ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, to extend on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party our deepest condolences on their sad loss. Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh anam dílis Jim Gibbons agus i measc na n-aingeal go raibh sé.