merrion street

It is with great sadness that I learnt of the death of my friend and constituency colleague Dr Garret FitzGerald.

I have known Garret since 1966. He was most supportive of Students for Democratic Action, an umbrella group of students in UCD I was part of, who fought for reform. In 1969 he wrote a reference for me where he said he knew I was committed to making a contribution to the future of this country.

His contribution to this country has been great. He was a man of great integrity and powerful intellect. We have been constituency colleagues since my election to the Dáil in 1977 and I had the honour to serve with him in government from 1982-’87.

Garret was passionate about Europe and Ireland’s place in it and I worked closely with him on a number of European referenda. He was a great force for modernisation and tolerance in Ireland.

Nowhere is this clearer than in his role in the peace process in Northern Ireland – probably his finest political achievement. He can be credited with leading Ireland on the path of rapprochement with Britain and truly paving the way for the Anglo Irish Agreement.

His passing during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II this week is particularly poignant given his crucial role in building these relationships.

To his children, Mark, John, Mary and their children I extend my deepest sympathy, and add that you can be truly proud of his incredible legacy. He will be sorely missed.