TDs from Dublin South East recall a friend and mentor

TDS FROM Dublin South East, which Dr FitzGerald represented in the Dáil, joined in the tributes.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said he had first met him in the 1960s, “when he was a junior lecturer in the economics section and I was a probably fairly obnoxious architectural student in UCD’’.

An occupation of UCD had taken place on the grounds that students were dissatisfied with the education they were receiving.

“We confronted the university authorities with the inadequacy of their own institution and he supported us in that particular struggle, even though one of his family was intimately involved on the other side,’’ he added.

He described Dr FitzGerald as “an intellectual, a politician, a feminist, a liberal, a European and an Irishman’’, and said it had been his privilege to serve in government with him.

“I loved him dearly and I regret his passing,’’ Mr Quinn added.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Lucinda Creighton said Dr FitzGerald had inspired her as a young person to become involved and to take an interest in politics. “His integrity, his very obvious sincerity and his unparalleled deep belief in genuine public service, convinced me that politics is a noble profession,’’ she added.

“If anybody personified high standards in high places, it was Dr Garret FitzGerald.’’ He had encouraged her, she said, to never waiver, always follow her convictions and stand up for what she believed in.

“I will carry those words with me in political life and as long as I am a member of this House,’’ she added.

Labour TD Kevin Humphreys said Ireland had lost a great patriot, adding that he extended his sympathy, and that of FG TD Eoghan Murphy, who was away on Government business, to the former taoiseach’s family.

“Like many of the previous speakers, we practised our trade in the shadow of a great politician and a great leader,’’ he added.