Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Return to Writ: Cork South-Central. Introduction of New Member.

The Clerk of the Dáil made the following announcement:

I gcomhlíonadh Bhuan-Ordú céad a seasca de na Buan-Orduithe i dtaobh Gnó Phoiblí, tá orm a chraoladh go ndearnadh, sa Chorrthoghchán a bhí ann an tríú lá is fiche de Dheireadh Fómhair, míle naoi gcéad nócha a hocht, de chionn an Teachta Aodh Ó Caoibheanaigh d'fháil bháis, an comhalta seo a leanas a thoghadh don Dáil:

In compliance with Standing Order 160 of the Standing Orders relevant to Public Business, I would like to announce that at the by-election held on 23 October 1998, consequent on the death of Deputy Hugh Coveney, the following Member has been elected to the Dáil:

Dáilcheantar Chorcaí Theas-Lár

Constituency of

Cork South-Central .......... Simon Coveney.

Mr. J. Bruton

It is my privilege and pleasure, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, to welcome our party's newest Member of the Oireachtas, Deputy Simon Coveney, on his first day in this House. Simon is following in the footsteps of his late father, Hugh, who was a distinguished Minister, a much loved Member of this House and someone who is deeply missed by all of us. Simon Coveney, as a candidate and now as a Deputy, has already displayed his capacity to play an equally constructive role in national life on behalf of his constituency and the people of Cork in general. Many people contributed to Simon's spectacular victory. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party I say a special word of thanks to his family, who supported him in his decision to enter public life, to our director of elections, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, to Simon's constituency colleague, Deputy Deirdre Clune, to the members of Fine Gael and to everyone who voted for Simon Coveney, not merely those who gave him their first preference votes but also supporters of other parties who gave him later preferences. Deputy Simon Coveney's share of first preferences — 37.7 per cent — put him 3,500 votes ahead of the Fianna Fáil candidate on the first count. On the final count his lead had increased to 7,000, representing the largest ever winning margin by Fine Gael over its principal opponent in a by-election.

The result of the by-election in Cork South Central represents a third consecutive defeat for the Government. One would have to question the pertinence of opinion polls in this context. In Limerick earlier this year the combined electoral support of the parties which formed the Rainbow Coalition was 58.39 per cent as against a combined vote of 33 per cent for the two Government parties. On the same day voters in Dublin North gave the Rainbow parties 43.6 per cent of the vote as against 32.8 per cent for the Government parties. However, the electors of Cork South Central — there appears to be a progression here — gave the largest margin of victory to the Rainbow parties with 56.7 per cent of people voting in their favour as against 31.6 per cent voting in favour of the Government parties. The results of these real polls tell their own story.

I again welcome Simon Coveney to the House. I believe he will have a distinguished career here because, in making a difficult decision against a background of terrible family tragedy, he has shown that he has the character to carry him through the many greater challenges he will face in his future political life. This is a day from which my party can take some pleasure. However, some if not all Members of this House — regardless of their political affiliations or whether they campaigned vigorously in favour of other candidates during the by-election — will be pleased that there is justice in the fact that Simon is taking the seat to which his father, who was prevented from completing his term of office by his tragic death, was elected.

The Taoiseach

It is not a day for partisan speeches so I will not engage in one. I congratulate Deputy Simon Coveney on the excellent campaign he ran. There is no argument that he won a comprehensive and outstanding victory for himself and his party. I was glad to see that my relatives — 90 per cent of whom live in Minane Bridge and who usually support my party strongly — voted in favour of Deputy Coveney. I hope they return to the fold in the next election but I have no doubt that Deputy Coveney's charm may persuade them to do otherwise.

I wish Deputy Coveney well on this his first day not only in Dáil Éireann but also in public life. Simon's entry into public life resulted from the tragic and untimely death of his father, an event which deprived politics of a true gentleman who we still miss. However, I have no doubt that Deputy Coveney will be a great successor. I have had the pleasure and honour to meet him inside and outside the political arena in the past and I know he is a hard working and diligent person. He has been drawn away from his preferred profession into this one and I must warn him that it is tough, sometimes very tough. However, I wish him well. Hugh Coveney was a great person and Simon's mother and the rest of his family are great people.

On this occasion the people of Cork South Central decided to elect Simon Coveney as their representative in Dáil Éireann. I take this opportunity to thank Sinead Behan, my party's standard-bearer, for her best efforts in the election. I congratulate Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, Fine Gael director of elections, and the constituency organisation on a well won victory. We have no argument with the arrival of another decent Coveney in Dáil Éireann.

Mr. Quinn

I warmly welcome Deputy Simon Coveney to this House. On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend congratulations to the Fine Gael team led by director of elections, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, in what was a vigorous but fair electoral contest in Cork South Central. The Fine Gael victory would not have been possible without the extraordinary doubling of the vote of Labour's standard bearer, Toddy O'Sullivan. Not for the first time in a by-election, he was able to ensure that Fine Gael would claim the prize on the floor of the House. However, my party has undoubtedly claimed the prize in the constituency. We will return to ensure that, following the next general election, Toddy O'Sullivan will return once again to our ranks where he belongs.

I salute the Fianna Fáil candidate in the by-election on the vigorous way she pursued her campaign. It is good to see young people participating in politics. I welcome the vigour with which the campaign was pursued and the fair and reasonable manner in which it was conducted.

Proinsias De Rossa

I congratulate Deputy Simon Coveney on his victory and I welcome him to the House. It must have been extraordinarily difficult for him on a personal level to decide to stand in an election so soon after the tragic death of his father who, as other speakers stated, was highly respected in this House as a man of great integrity and a good public servant. It is important that people like Simon Coveney, the Fianna Fáil candidate and the Labour Party candidate — who performed so well — are prepared to put themselves forward for election at a time when politics and politicians have come in for a great deal of criticism. It is a sign of the inner strength of Simon Coveney that he made the decision to run at the time he did and the electorate gave their support to him as a result. I congratulate him on his victory.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I join the other party leaders in congratulating Simon Coveney. It is a fitting tribute to his father and his family, that he performed so well in the by-election. Members on all sides of the House hugely respected his father. Simon is approximately the same age I was when I first entered the Seanad. At that stage, I believed that everyone of my current age was ancient. I do not know if that is the way Deputy Coveney's thoughts are proceeding today. I also thought I would change the world in a couple of weeks but, after 21 years, I must inform Simon that it takes a great deal longer to do so.

Today is one for celebration. There are not too many days on which politicians can celebrate. Approximately 95 per cent of our time is devoted to hard work and drudgery while the other five per cent is given over to glamour and celebration. I hope Simon has an opportunity to enjoy the day. He is embarking on a challenging career and he has our support in that.

I pay tribute to Peter Kelly who represented the Progressive Democrats in the by-election. He is a young dynamic person who will have much to offer to politics in the future. Everyone involved in the by-election campaign, including the Government parties, recognise that Simon Coveney was elected by popular choice which speaks volumes for the campaign he ran, for his family and for himself. This must be a very proud moment for his mother, Pauline, who can share in his celebration. We wish him every success.

Mr. Sargent

Ba mhaith liom thar cheann an Chomhaontas Ghlais comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Simon Coveney agus le Fine Gael as an bua an-mhaith a fuair siad i gCorcaigh Lár Theas.

It is something of a momentous occasion for any Deputy who wins a by-election. I am sure his family's happiness is tinged with sadness at the circumstances which brought about the by-election. It is a day of mixed emotions.

On behalf of the Green Party and my colleague, Deputy Gormley, we enjoyed our time canvassing in Cork South-Central on behalf of Councillor Dan Boyle. We are happy, once again, to be the fourth party in that constituency. It appears we will be the fourth party in Leinster House soon. Cork South-Central is predicting the future of politics in Ireland. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh chairde Simon Coveney atá sa ghailearaí phoiblí. I hope they enjoy their time in Dublin and will leave some of their Christmas shopping money behind before they return.

Ms Clune

I join in welcoming Simon Coveney to the House and congratulate him on his election to Dáil Éireann. I was elected to represent Cork South-Central along with Simon's late father, Hugh Coveney, a man who was much admired and respected here. Many people told Simon during the campaign that if he was half as good as his father, he was good enough for them. Simon is every bit as good as his father and has proved during the campaign that he is a person of integrity. His energy, enthusiasm and commitment to public life will serve the House well and will serve us well in Cork South-Central. He has been a tremendous candidate in his own right and will be a excellent Deputy for Cork South-Central. I look forward to working with him in the constituency.

We should all reflect on the tremendous privilege and honour — no matter what our party affiliations — in being elected to this House. It is a wonderful honour and privilege and it is Deputy Simon Coveney's day today.

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I join in welcoming Simon Coveney to the House and congratulate him on an outstanding victory and an excellent campaign which was fairly organised. My colleagues, Deputies Dennehy, Batt O'Keeffe, and I look forward to working with him. If Cork politics has one thing to offer the rest of the country, it is the strong tradition, dating back almost to the foundation of the State whereby Cork politicians tend to work together, irrespective of party divisions, in the interests of Cork and the wider region. The late Hugh Coveney was committed to that approach to politics and to the Cork region generally. Having listened to all the speeches, some of which had a particularly strong political flavour, I wonder whether the Boundaries Commission should be asked to make Cork South-Central a seven seater constituency to accommodate all the ambitions and aspirations of those around the House.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I would like to associate with the vote of congratulations to Deputy Simon Coveney and join in the welcome to him to the House today. On behalf of Sinn Féin I acknowledge that the campaign was well fought and that the victor is a popular choice in the constituency of Cork South Central. Like other party representatives I record my party's satisfaction with the opening showing of our candidate Henry Cremin in Cork South-Central. I have no doubt we will be there to contest future local and national contests. I wish Deputy Simon Coveney well in joining the Fine Gael team in the House and every success. His father was a very fine person in every respect. In the limited period I had the opportunity to get to know him, I found him to be all of that.

Mr. Dennehy

I join the various speakers in welcoming Deputy Coveney to the House. I have already wished him a long and happy future here. I take the point made by the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, that we tend to work together in Cork. I had the privilege of working for many years with Simon's father, the late Hugh Coveney, and I succeeded him as Lord Mayor of the city. It was possible to work with Hugh Coveney at all times in the interests of our constituency, Cork generally and the country. Since the commencement of the campaign I have seen the same traits in Simon. He has committed himself to the future of Cork. He has said he wants to be his own man and I have no doubt he will be. He has popular support which can be attributed to various factors in the constituency. As the Minister, Deputy Martin, said we may want to push out the boundaries to make the constituency larger. There is room in Cork South-Central for good workers at all times.

I am happy to see many of my constituents in the public gallery. The number of candidates run by Fine Gael on the next occasion will determine whether I will be looking for third or fourth preferences.

As mentioned by the Tánaiste I too would like to remember Mrs. Pauline Coveney today. She has been in this House previously. What happened to Hugh Coveney was so tragic that most of us could not comprehend it at the time. However there is a general feeling of satisfaction at the election result. That is not to say Fianna Fáil was not disappointed. We worked hard, we did not win on the day but it is a memorable day for the Coveney family and should be remembered specifically for that. Deputy Coveney will have a tough time here but he has proven in other areas and during the campaign that he is capable of being at the helm.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe

I warmly welcome Simon Coveney to the House. During the campaign he displayed many of the fine qualities his father had shown over the years — warmth of personality, integrity and all the other qualities we knew in him. The campaign was an excellent one, was well run and he deserved his victory.

At times I was perplexed as to which campaign we were involved in, given that Deputies in my area who were part of "a save Batt O'Keeffe campaign" said, "if you vote for Simon Coveney, it is a vote for Batt O'Keeffe". It was a well run campaign. It appears as if Deputy Coveney's transfers on the next occasion will come to my party. I wish him every success in the House. He will be a fine Deputy and I look forward to working in close harmony with him — but not too harmoniously. I hope all of us together can work in the best interests of Cork South-Central.