Tributes paid to former senator

Widespread tributes have been paid to former Fianna Fβil senator and businessman, Eoin Ryan, who has died, aged 81.

A son of one of the party's founding members, Dr James Ryan, and father of Mr Eoin Ryan TD, Minister of State for Tourism, Sport, and Recreation, Mr Ryan enjoyed a lengthy political career.

He was also a leading businessman, principally through his chairmanship of New Ireland Assurance Company, which was co-founded by his father. His third career was law; he was called to the Bar in 1945 and the Inner Bar in 1963.

The Taoiseach last night described Mr Ryan as "a leading figure of his generation" and said he was privileged to enjoy his friendship and receive his advice.

Mr Ryan spent 30 years in the the Seanad but never contested a local or general election. Yet his influence in Fianna Fβil was enormous, and he was director of elections when the party swept back into power in 1977.

As Mr Ahern pointed out: "As an officer of the party and a friend and adviser of taoisigh and ministers, his importance was far greater than his official role."

His latter years in the Seanad were spent battling against Charles Haughey, whose resignation he called for on several occasions.

Mr Ryan also showed his independent streak in 1985, when he refused to vote against the Hillsborough Agreement brokered by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition. He said the agreement had "great potential for the nationalists in the Six Counties".

In 1987, he announced he would not be seeking re-election to the Senate because he didn't feel he could make any useful contribution as a Fianna Fβil candidate "in the current circumstances".

Born in Dublin in 1920, Mr Ryan was educated at Presentation College, Bray and Mount St Joseph's College, Roscrea. He served with the Defence Forces before completing a degree in economics at UCD. His other business interests included Aran Energy, Jefferson Smurfit, Lyons Irish Holdings, Ulster Bank, P.V. Doyle Hotels and the Smith Group.

The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, who also opposed Mr Haughey's leadership in Fianna Fβil during the 1980s, said she was "greatly saddened" by his death. "Eoin Ryan was a man of great dignity as well as a deeply committed public representative".

The chairman of the Fianna Fβil parliamentary party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, said Mr Ryan's loss would be sadly felt by the Fianna Fβil movement nationwide: "Eoin's dedication to the party and its aims was legendary".

Labour leader Mr Ruair∅ Quinn paid tribute to the former senator's commitment to Europe.

Mr Ryan is survived by his wife Joan, sons Mark, Jim and Eoin and his daughter Derbhail.

Obituary, page 16