Essay collection honours political philosopher Father Fergal O'Connor

The philosopher Father Fergal O'Connor, who inspired UCD students for more than 30 years, has had a collection of essays on Irish political philosophy and public policy published as a tribute to his work.

Its publication was marked last night by UCD president Dr Art Cosgrove at a reception in Dublin with Father O'Connor, moral and political philosopher, social critic and member of the Dominican Order, the guest of honour.

Questioning Ireland: Debates in Political Philosophy and Public Policy is edited by Dr Joseph Dunne; Prof Attracta Ingram and Mr Frank Litton, and published by the Institute of Public Administration.

The contributors to this festschrift range over the values and ideas at the heart of political thinking; notably, justice, liberty, equality, community, democracy, nation and republic.

For the most part, they are former students and colleagues who consider the main issues of contemporary Irish politics and society as illuminated by core ideas of traditional political thinking.

The collection focuses on issues such as the role of the state in a pluralist society, exploring whether a common good is still possible and how "nation" should relate to "state".

The authors confront issues of education, public service, the environment and religion in a changing Ireland, Dr Cosgrove noted. Their work was testimony to the teachings of Fergal O'Connor, who instilled "a spirit of inquiry; always motivated by a search for justice".

Father O'Connor said such honours usually went to scholars who spent much time in libraries or with their noses in manuscripts. He had benefited from such people but could not claim to be a scholar.

Similarly, he found difficulty with "philosopher" - someone who seeks, who does not possess, wisdom - as his friends told him he acted as though he had wisdom. On reflection, he had concluded the volume honoured the wisdom of Kerry people.

Prof Ingram thanked the authors for "wonderfully accessible pieces, controversial in many ways". Those who had "walked some of the way with Fergal O'Connor" felt privileged, she added.

Questioning Ireland: Debates in Political Philosophy and Public Policy, published by the IPA, is available for £25 from bookshops and the IPA publishing division: IPA, Vergemount Hall, Clonskeagh, Dublin 6