Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 1

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

Deputies will have learned with profound regret of the death of Tom Foxe, a former Member of this House. May he rest in peace.

Tom was born in Roscommon in June 1937. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' school, Roscommon, University College Galway and University College Dublin. He was a publican and an agricultural adviser. He was first elected to the Dáil in the general election of the summer of 1989 as an independent hospital candidate in the old three seat constituency of Roscommon, which comprised the geographical county of Roscommon with the exception of an area in the west around Williamstown and that part of Athlone west of the Shannon. He lost his seat in the 1997 general election. However, in the local elections last June, Tom repeated his poll topping performance of 1991 with nearly 300 votes to spare over the quota.

The people of County Roscommon will be particularly saddened in view of the tremendous service he gave to that county down the years. Tom was active in many organisations at many levels for many decades in his native county. He was treasurer of the Roscommon Community Council from 1973 to 1977, a member of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee from 1976 to 1989 and its honorary secretary from 1987 to 1989. He was a loyal servant to Roscommon and his role in the Roscommon hospital campaign brought him to national prominence. He will be long remembered by the people of Roscommon for the strong position he took on that issue.

Tom had a keen interest in sport, particularly boxing, and he was a member of the Connacht branch of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association from 1974. He was an international boxing judge, a manager of international boxing teams and a great expert on the sport.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, I offer our deepest condolences to his family. He will be sadly missed by all Members as it is only a few years since he left the House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.

The overwhelming majority of the Members knew Tom Foxe and we are personally shocked that he should have passed away at such a young age. He would have been 63 years of age on his next birthday in June.

It is, in a sense, symbolic of the great fight that marked Tom Foxe's political career that he should have passed away to meet his eternal reward in the hospital, Roscommon county hospital, which he did so much to save. I visited the hospital and it is probable that without his political commitment to and leadership of the campaign to save it, Roscommon county hospital might not be there in its current form with the capacity to provide a range of acute services. The people of Roscommon are deeply grateful to Tom Foxe for that contribution to their welfare.

Tom was born in the townland of Derrane, close to Roscommon town. He had a deep interest in agriculture and served as an agricultural adviser in the Strokestown area until he retired from the service in 1971. He entered the licensed trade in Roscommon town with great success. Foxe's pub might not be quite as well known nationally as the pub of the same name in south Dublin, but its reputation among those who know it is as good if not better than any other licensed premises in the vicinity.

Tom's interest in sport was mentioned by the Taoiseach. He was president of the Connacht branch of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. He was a man of many parts, an agriculturist, publican, sportsman and politician. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, which worked closely with Tom Foxe in different arenas, I express our regret at his passing and convey our sympathy to his sisters, Ann, Mary and Lily, and to his nieces and nephews, one of whom is continuing to run Tom's pub in Roscommon town.

Having spoken to my colleagues in the constituency of Roscommon-Longford who dealt with Tom, the often used and, in this instance, true phrase applies: "his word was his bond".

It is always an occasion of sadness when the House marks the passing of its former Members but it seems like only yesterday since Tom Foxe was present in the Chamber. The clock of time appears to tick more quickly when one thinks of that.

I remember when Tom Foxe became a Dáil Deputy. He had landed a unique political uppercut to the body politic in Roscommon in defence of the hospital to which Deputy Bruton and the Taoiseach referred. He was always good humoured. He had an infectious grin and always had a comment or an observation to make, particularly when we were gathered in the Chamber for votes or during other assemblies.

He came from a tradition of radicalism for which Roscommon has been known in the past. The late Jack McQuillan likewise, with his sporting background, captured a mood, a feeling and a demand for service in Roscommon which Tom Foxe was more than able to serve during his time in the Dáil. The comments already made are warranted. On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend our condolences and sympathies to his three sisters, his nephew and to the people of Roscommon who were well served by a truly independent Deputy.

Thar cheann an Pháirtí Daonlathaigh, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann Tom Foxe, go háirithe a dheirfiúracha, as ucht a gcailliúint mhóir. Bhí aithne mhaith agam ar Tom le blianta fada sular tháinig sé isteach sa Teach mar ionadaí do Chontae Ros Comáin. Fear lách ab ea é. Bhí suim aige sa spórt agus sa saol polaitíocht agus is mór an cailliúnt é do mhuintir Ros Comáin agus dá chlann nach mbeidh sé linn a thuilleadh.

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats Party, I extend our sincere sympathy to the family of the late Tom Foxe. I knew him for many years before he became a Member. On the first day I met him after he was elected to the House, he reminded me of my efforts to teach him how to row when he was a student at University College Galway. Tom's interest in sport was something of which I was keenly aware and often we would have long discussions about it. His particular interest throughout his life was in boxing in which he represented Ireland on many important occasions as an official at international level, and he had a keen and abiding interest in it all his life. He was also an active member of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and represented his trade. As a qualified agricultural instructor, he brought the benefit of his deep knowledge to the many farmers throughout Roscommon with whom he dealt over the years.

His kind disposition and deep interest in people was reflected in the approach made to him to stand in the election to try to obtain a solution to what seemed to some of us the interminable problem of Roscommon hospital. He was a good standard bearer for them and was a well known, intelligent and popular person. He quietly set about his work here to solve that issue after the 1989 general election. Both he and Deputy O'Hanlon brought about a quiet solution which has been to the satisfaction of the people of the area. It is something to his memory which will exist for a long time.

I extend my sympathy to his family, his sisters especially, and to all the people of Roscommon who looked up to him and supported him and who benefited from his kind diplomacy and gentle spirit. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Is buille tubaisteach é do ospidéal agus muintir Ros Comáin agus dá chairde go léir go bhfuil duine chomh trodach, éirimiúil agus macánta le Tom Foxe caillte. Bhí aithne agam air ó 1992. Ba dhuine é a bhí i gcónaí cúirtéiseach. Mar Theachta nua mé féin i 1992 , chuir sé mé ar mo chompórd agus bhí mé i gcónaí buíoch dó as an bhfáilte a chuir sé romham. Bhíomar ag com hoibriú le chéile go minic. Duine neamhspleach é siúd agus duine aonarach sa Chomhaontas Glas mé féin. Ba dhuine óg é a léiríonn uair amháin eile nach fada saol na polaitíochta go minic do dhuine, ach chomh maith le sin, nach fada saol an pholaiteora leis an cineál saoil a bhíonn ann. I gcomhthéacs Tom Foxe, tá a bhás dochreidte, go mórmhór mar ba dhuine aclaí é a bhí i gcónaí gníomhach. Nuair a bhuaileadh duine leis, ligfeadh sé air go minic go raibh sé ag dornálaíocht agus ag pleidhcíocht agus an-chairdiúil mar gheall air.

It is a great tragedy that someone so young and with so much to give to public life has been lost. Tom Foxe represented the dignity and integrity of politics we all strive to bring about. Thar cheann an Chomhaontas Glas, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh lena mhuintir agus lena chairde go léir agus a rá leo go bhfuilimid ag smaoineamh orthu.

I would like to be associated with all the tributes which have been paid to the late Tom Foxe and I express my sympathies to his sisters and family generally and to his many friends in Roscommon. Tom Foxe was a unique and special man in many ways. I recall the first day he became aware of his illness. We met and talked about it. The singular courage he displayed that day and throughout his illness over recent years was something which should perhaps teach more than a little to those who are more fortunate than him.

Tom had a profound interest in people and he was at all times with them and close to them socially and in sporting and political life. He would not have been in politics were it not for the fact that he felt deeply about the issue of Roscommon hospital. He fought a battle and a campaign with a politeness and courtesy which are probably unique and much sought after in all our political activities. As a colleague, I regret very much his passing. I hope that eternal peace lies ahead of him.

I too would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy of the other Members. Tom was a man of honour and principle who was true to his word. He was an ambassador for politics and politicians. He will be best known in the national arena for his campaign to save the county hospital in Roscommon and he was instrumental in keeping the hospital open at that time. However, he also had other interests, including boxing, of which he was Connacht president. He was an agricultural adviser in both counties Roscommon and Leitrim as well as being a well respected publican in Roscommon town. He will be remembered by the people in Roscommon not only for his campaign on behalf of the hospital in which he passed away but also as a person who was highly respected for his honesty, generosity and decency. He was a true gentleman.

I remember Tom for his good-humoured outlook on life, especially during his long illness. I am sure he would have had to smile when the Taoiseach spoke of the geography of the county. He was elected in Roscommon-East Galway and was re-elected in Longford-Roscommon. He was a man who genuinely respected and decently treated those he met. I express my deepest sympathies to his three sisters, Ann, Lily and Mary, and to his nieces and nephews. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I too express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Tom Foxe. He was a good citizen. As an agricultural instructor, he was extremely respected by the farming community. As a publican, he was well known in the licensed vintner trade. In sport, especially boxing, he was known the length and breadth of Ireland. He was a dedicated person and a good politician. He was good at representing the case for Roscommon but he was also good in every other way as a politician. At the previous general election, he lost his seat and I was returned to the House. He was very gracious at the count. He said, "I don't mind losing so long as you won, Louis", and those were his words. That was a nice thing to say to me and something I will never forget. He was a good friend to everyone so everyone has lost a good friend.

Members rose.

Barr
Roinn