Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2007

Vol. 638 No. 3

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

I rise to pay tribute to the late Joe Sherlock, friend and comrade over many years, and an outstanding representative of the people.

Three weeks ago when I attended his funeral in Cork and stood at his graveside, I was struck by the great affection that the people of Cork had for Joe Sherlock and the great respect they had for him. I remember in particular, when the funeral was over, people who had gathered in the cemetery simply standing in silent respect for somebody who had served the people of Cork so well. That was not surprising because Joe Sherlock had been continuously a public representative for 40 years serving as town councillor, member of Cork County Council, Member of Dáil Éireann and Member of Seanad Éireann.

He was elected to this House in 1981 as the sole representative of the Workers Party. It was a great challenge not alone to be a new Member of the House but to be the sole representative of a political party at a particularly politically turbulent time in the history of this country. His was never an easy road in politics. He lost his seat in 1982, regained it in 1987, retained it in 1989, lost it again in 1992, won it back in 2002, serving in the Seanad in the intervening period from 1993 to 1997.

One of the things of which Joe Sherlock was particularly proud was chairing the proceedings of this House as an Acting Chairman. His work as a representative was not confined to politics. He was also an active trade unionist. He was, for many years, secretary of the Mallow No. 2 branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, representing the workers in the Irish Sugar Company in Mallow where he worked and participating in the representation nationally of sugar company workers throughout the country.

Joe Sherlock was passionate about politics, sometimes a little too passionate. He was intolerant of bureaucracy standing in the way of the rights of the people he represented. He had a great commitment to many issues, for example, Mallow General Hospital, on behalf of which he campaigned for many hears. He did not have long to enjoy his retirement from this House but he was particularly proud of the election of his son, Seán, to succeed him. In many respects, therefore, he died a happy man.

Bhí grá faoi leith aige don Gaeilge agus do cúrsaí cultúrtha i gcoitinne. Nuair a bhí sé i mBaile Átha Cliath i rith na seachtaine dos na suíonna Dála, téadh sé go minic go dtí na hamharclanna agus na ceolárais ar fud na cathrach. Tírghráthóir ab ea Joe Sherlock, i ndáiríre. Cáilliúnt mór is ea a bás don Lucht Oibre agus go háirithe dá chlann. Ba mhaith liom mo chómhbhrón agus cómhbhrón Páirtí an Lucht Oibre a ghabháil lena chlann — Joseph, Úna agus ár chómhghleacaithe, an Teachta Seán Sherlock.

The Taoiseach

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party I extend my sympathy to Deputy Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Seán Sherlock and the Labour Party on the death of Joe Sherlock. A proud Cork man, Joe was a long-serving Member of the House. He was born in Kildorrery in north Cork seven decades ago. From a young age he showed great commitment to the people of north Cork and to improving the lives of those in the community who were less well off. He had a long career, almost 20 years, in the sugar factory in Mallow and his experience there helped him to understand the difficulties of working people and their need to be represented at local level.

His election to Mallow Urban District Council 40 years ago marked the beginning of a successful political career that spanned more than four decades. In 1974, in recognition of the work he undertook, he was elected to and was honoured to serve on Cork County Council. He was first elected to this House in 1981. He lost his seat in 1982, regained it in 1987, retained it in 1989, and lost it again in 1992. He was elected to the Seanad on the labour panel and in the 2002 election he was again elected a Deputy.

Joe was always passionate about politics and used the Order of Business here, right up to the summer, to raise issues. If I answered him once on the issue of the rents Bill I answered him a thousand times as he kept returning to the issue. He knew what my answer would be but he believed the issue should be dealt with in a different way and continued to put his view forward.

My dealings with Joe Sherlock go back a long time. I was a Government Whip when he was elected to this House, leading his parliamentary party. When its membership increased from one to three he continued doing the work of Whip and leader. He was very straight and honest in terms of how matters stood in relation to voting. I remember one occasion when I was Whip and his party decided not to support the Government, but he always made it clear to me when that was to happen. I still remember the circumstances very well.

Joe Sherlock was a committed public representative whose dedication and loyalty to the people of Mallow and Cork will be sadly missed. I join with Deputy Gilmore and Members of the House in extending our sympathy to Ellen, Joseph, Seán, Úna and Joe's colleagues and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Deputy Enda Kenny

I am honoured and saddened to pay a warm personal tribute to the late former Deputy Joe Sherlock on behalf of the Fine Gael Party. I sympathise with Deputy Gilmore and with the young Deputy Sherlock on the loss of his father.

Joe Sherlock was a thoroughly decent man. He had a distinctive voice that one could hear in the corridors of the House long before one saw him. At every stage of his public life he was truly a servant of his people in the trade unions, on local authorities and in the Dáil and Seanad. On his retirement he gave an interview in which he said:

I have always aimed for integrity and honesty in my dealings with people. It would be great to be remembered as such. I don't want any great plaudits; just to have it said that I did my best.

That is certainly how he will be remembered in the House and in Cork East.

In his 40 years of public life, during which he travelled up and down to Dublin week after week and, like many others of his generation, attending meetings all over east and north Cork and other places in draughty halls on bad wet nights, Joe Sherlock, God rest him, had a genuine belief in what he stood for. He campaigned for issues concerning Mallow town in 1967 and, thereafter, when he was elected to the UDC. He raised the issue of Mallow hospital from the Opposition benches on many occasions, campaigned on issues relating to the sugar plant and, as the Taoiseach rightly mentioned, continually campaigned for a rents Bill. Week after week, even when his voice was not as strong as in previous years, he would ask the then Minister, Deputy Noel Ahern, when he would address the issue of a rents Bill. I notice it has slipped off the legislative programme entirely. Maybe, as a monument to Joe Sherlock, the Taoiseach might reinstate it.

We have lost a colleague in the Dáil and Seanad and I sympathise with Joe's wife Ellen, his daughter Úna and sons Joseph and Seán, who is a Member of this House. They have lost a husband, a father and a person who had the genuine respect and love of the people in his constituency. I welcome Deputy Seán Sherlock to the House. He is here on merit, by the vote of the people. I share something with him in having come into the House after the death of my own father, as did the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, and many others. If I may tender some advice to him, I suggest that, at times of political difficulty, he should simply ask: "What would Joe have done about this?"

I remember canvassing as a young and naive Deputy in a Cork by-election in 1979. I arrived with my loudspeaker and all the gear to speak outside Doneraile church in the driving rain and I set up my little camp across the road from the statue of Canon Sheehan. Joe Sherlock came out of the church with a large entourage beside him, his support group for what he wanted to say. By the time he had set up his microphone most of the people had left, because of the rain. He came over to me and said: "We might as well say a few words — maybe Canon Sheehan himself might listen to us."

He was a thorough gentleman and the people of Cork East sent to this House, and to the Seanad for many years, somebody of whom Irish people can be very proud. Mar a dúirt tú Eamon, a chara, nuair a bhí sé sa Suíochán, úsáidfeadh sé beagáinín Gaeilge chun chuile Theachta a ghlaoch. Cé nár labhair sé mórán Gaeilge ina dhiadh sin, bhí an grá agus bá sin aige don teanga. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

On my own behalf and that of the Green Party I offer sympathy to Deputy Seán Sherlock and his family on the death of our late colleague, Joe Sherlock. I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Joe. Untimely deaths such as this put everything into perspective. Only weeks previously Joe celebrated what was undoubtedly one of the proudest days of his life when Seán succeeded him in representing Cork East for the Labour Party. I know from speaking to my colleague, Senator Dan Boyle, that Joe was hugely involved in the campaign, as he had been in other campaigns over years, such as the campaign for Mallow hospital and the sugar factory, as my colleagues have said. The work put into those campaigns by Joe Sherlock shows the level of feeling and empathy he had for the ordinary working people of north Cork. I believe this stems from his own background in the agricultural industry and, in particular, the sugar factory, which in turn led to his involvement in the trade union movement. His understanding of his locality and the people of north Cork was a significant factor in his ability to hold a seat for the Workers' Party in a predominantly agricultural constituency.

Joe was a very hard worker and was held in very deep affection by his constituents. He went on to contest the seat first for the Democratic Left and, later, for the Labour Party, never failing to remember his duty to the people whom he met on the farms and in the factories all around Cork. Undoubtedly his presence in the constituency will be sorely missed, though I have no doubt his son Seán will continue his good work.

This year is the tenth anniversary of the passing of another great Labour figure, Jim Kemmy, and today we mourn the loss of another great socialist, Joe Sherlock. Like others in the House, we will miss other aspects of Joe Sherlock. As Deputy Kenny said, we will miss his distinctive voice but I will always remember his smile and his kind words for new Deputies. I express my profound sympathy and that of my party to the Sherlock family and Joe's friends but especially to his wife, Ellen, and his children Úna, Joseph and Seán, who now sits in this House as Joe's very able successor. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

On behalf of the Sinn Féin Deputies in this House I extend our sympathy to Deputy Eamon Gilmore and the members of the Labour Party on their loss on the passing of former Deputy Joe Sherlock. I also extend our sympathy to Joe's widow, Ellen, his sons Seán, our colleague in the Dáil, Joe junior and his daughter Úna, as well as to the extended Sherlock family and all the bereaved. I and others who knew Joe Sherlock better never believed that, after the parting of the ways of our respective routes in politics, he was anything other than what he had always been. I and others have always sincerely respected Joe for being a republican, a socialist and, as I learned from my own experience of coming into this House, a gentleman. His quiet and respectful manner and his ease with people, already referred to in the case of new Deputies, was something very much noted and appreciated. I have no doubt that the views I have expressed are the observations of many in my party and I happy to put those views of Joe on the official record today. Like previous speakers I will certainly miss his unique style and his particular use of language in this House, which was a feature of certain aspects of the day's schedule in which Joe was always a participant. The short time he lived after his retirement from the Houses of the Oireachtas is a signal to us all of how short life can be and reminds us to be mindful of the passage of time in all our cases.

I again extend my sympathy to Joe's son, Seán, who is present today and I have no doubt he will convey the sympathy of all colleagues to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

Joe Sherlock was in every sense an old-fashioned gentleman. The few women here know that he stood back if there was a lady present. That is not very common nowadays, certainly not in this House. He was a terrific campaigner for Mallow. Almost every time I met him after becoming Minister for Health and Children he raised something to do with Mallow Hospital. After the hospital had come first in the first hygiene audit I told him it was doing so well it did not need anything else. Shortly before the general election when we were coming to the end of the debate on either the Medical Practitioners Bill or the Pharmacy Bill, I told the officials I thought we had reached the final speaker when suddenly Joe Sherlock arrived and spoke about Mallow Hospital. I reminded him that the legislation had nothing to do with the hospital but he never missed an opportunity to put forward its case and in other instances, the case for his constituents.

Joe Sherlock was quietly effective. I knew that he had experienced bad health in recent years but when I inquired after his health, he always spoke positively. When I heard about his death, I thought it was sad that he had not had an opportunity to enjoy his retirement.

Unlike many parents here, he was proud of the fact that his son was going into politics. Deputy Seán Sherlock is probably unique because there are few children of politicians nowadays who are anxious to follow in their parents' footsteps. His father particularly hoped he would succeed him and I am sure he was very proud of his success in the recent general election. He has a hard act to follow. May his father rest in peace. We will all miss him very much.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Michael Ahern)

I join my colleagues in expressing sympathy on the recent death of my late colleague Joe Sherlock. I worked with Joe since 1982 and can vouch for the fact that he was a hard-working public representative who was uncompromising in his work for the constituency. That he was elected to many bodies over 40 years was proof of the esteem in which he was held in the constituency of Cork East. When I spoke to him before the last general election, he was hopeful that his son would be elected and on the night of the election he was very proud that he had succeeded. I am sure he is looking down from above at us and wishing Deputy Sherlock and the rest of us well.

I extend to Deputy Sherlock, Joe, Úna, his wife, Ellen, brothers and extended family my sympathy and that of the Fianna Fáil organisation in Cork East on Joe's sad death such a short time after he left this House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Deputy David Stanton

I too wish to add to the tributes to my late colleague Joe Sherlock who was a legend in Cork East where everybody knew and respected him. Many loved him. He was extremely sincere which came across in the way he spoke. He was also passionate about the issues on which he felt strongly. I saw him in action. He was a gentleman but woe betide anyone who got on his wrong side when he was on a roll about an issue about which he felt passionate. He was successful because he worked hard for the people. Everybody could go to him and many did across the constituency and he helped them. From Mallow to Midleton, to Ballycotton and Youghal, Joe could turn up anywhere and often did.

I extend my sympathy to Deputy Sherlock, to Joe's family and the Labour Party on the unexpected and sad loss of a legend.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

I sincerely thank the leaders of all the political parties, of all persuasions, for those kind and wonderful words. I thank too the staff of the House whose expressions of sympathy in the past few weeks have made us proud of the fact that when our father was a Member, he acquitted himself well, was well liked and did his best for the people he represented.

Our grief for our father is personal but to be able to share it so publicly in many respects and that so many have expressed sympathy with us leaves us proud. Our hearts are warmed by the fact that the man endeared himself to so many.

I cannot say too much today but with the indulgence of the House will read some lines from a letter I received from a former colleague and dear friend of my father's who campaigned with him over many years:

Joe epitomised for me all that is good, fine and noble in politics. I was so moved to hear you speak so proudly on Thursday [the day of the funeral] about his genuine commitment to the Republicanism of Wolfe Tone and of the French Revolution, of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, because that was what I saw Joe Sherlock live when I had the privilege of working with him. He was an instinctive socialist, and found ease with the noble of spirit and of heart. He thought and fought from the heart. He could readily distinguish between nationalism and republicanism, and always knew a sham when it presented. His was an abiding humanity, a part of himself that he could not detach or shake off. His volcanic ability for anger never failed. He never had to feign it — his honesty valve was set so high!

For the very many of us who had the privilege of walking in Joe's considerable shadow, I must say that it was a rare privilege. It was enriching and exciting. He gave hope and leadership, and enabled persons to dream, and to believe that there was and is a better way of doing things. One of the other great ironies is that while Joe was never in government, he achieved more for the people of North Cork as a campaigning politician than a Mercedes full of government ministers ever have — he made a real impact on people's lives.

We should not forget Joe, and though his main monument is built in our hearts, we must not leave his inspiration slip.

An Ceann Comhairle

Of the late Deputy Joe Sherlock it can be truly said when he had an opinion, he had an opinion.

Members rose.