Tom Fitzpatrick
When I first entered the Dail in 1975, Tom had already been a TD for Cavan for 10 years. It was in 1965 that Tom was first elected to Dail Eireann, and he had the honour of being returned to the Dail at every subsequent General Election until his retirement from politics in 1989. Prior to entering the Dail, Tom was a member of the Seanad, elected on the Administrative Panel.
Over three decades, Tom's name and reputation were well known throughout the corridors of Leinster House. He was a staunch defender of his constituents, and was absolutely resolute in his representation of them.
Furthermore, Tom was a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word. Behind his softly-spoken manner lay firm principles coupled with a sharply focused mind. Honourable, courageous, yet with a steely determination and commitment to his cause, Tom Fitzpatrick was a person who you always wanted to have in your corner, fighting your case.
For my own part, I have particular reason to mark Tom's passing with sadness. He served as my own director of elections in Mayo in 1975, in a by-election which arose following the death of my father. The wealth of experience and expertise which he made available to me at that time was greatly appreciated.
Throughout his distinguished career, Tom held many senior ministerial positions, a true testament to his rich and diverse capabilities. An integral part of the Cosgrave government of the Seventies, Tom served as both Minister for Lands and Minister for Transport and Power. Following a period in opposition in which Tom was the Fine Gael spokesman on environment, he was appointed Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in Garret FitzGerald's first administration from June 1981 until March 1982. He also served as a member of the Council of State from 1982 to 1987.
However, it was in his role as Ceann Comhairle that Tom may be best recalled.From 1982, Tom brought a new dimension to the chairmanship of Dail Eireann, bearing the often onerous responsibility of this office with ease. Moreover, Tom conducted the business of the Dail with absolute and irreproachable fairness at all times, sometimes to the frustration of the Fine Gael and Labour Government of the day!
His connection with other parliaments abroad in his capacity as Ceann Comhairle also had a significant positive impact on the running of the Dail, an assembly that has often been slow to reform.
Alongside his many significant political successes, Tom had a large measure of sadness in his personal life. The deaths of his first wife, Betty, and his daughter, Fidelma, were heavy blows. Following these sad losses, it was with considerable happiness that Tom's family and friends bore witness to the joy and contentment of his later marriage to Carmel.
Over a lifetime of political engagement, Tom's achievements are too numerous to recount individually. However, his long-standing commitment to local representation cannot go without mention. As well as the high profile positions he held at a national level, Tom was a long-standing local representative, holding the chairmanship of both the Cavan Urban District Council and the North-Eastern Regional Development Association for many years. He was also a member of the Cavan Vocational Educational Committee from the mid-Fifties until 1973, holding the vice-chairmanship of the VEC for the majority of that time.
During these most busy times, Tom was also a council member of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, serving as vice-president of the society from 1972 to 1973.
Various as Tom's political, educational and legal activities were, his other interests were equally broad. He was closely associated with the arts in Cavan for more than 60 years, deriving great pleasure from this association and from any assistance that he could give to fostering the arts in the county.
Born in Scotshouse, Clones, Co Monaghan in 1918, Tom Fitzpatrick was 88 years of age when he died earlier this week. In his passing, we must say farewell to a political giant of his time.
It is to his family that our thoughts must now turn, and to whom I express my deepest personal sympathies. Tom is survived by his wife Carmel, children Geraldine and Tom, his brother John Brendan, an extended circle of family, and many close friends, both in politics and in the wider sphere of his personal life.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Enda Kenny is leader of the Fine Gael party
- Enda Kenny
