Taoiseach and Uachtarán Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin TD has said he is deeply saddened to learn of the death of former colleague and good friend, Noel Treacy
Noel Treacy was a public representative of great distinction and long service. He cared deeply about his community and his country and through a lifetime of service played a significant role in making both better places to live in.
Noel Treacy first became a member of Fianna Fáil in 1969 when he joined the party as a 17-year-old. He entered national politics in 1982 when he was first elected to Dáil
Éireann at a by-election. Noel served as a TD for the Galway East constituency from 1982 to 2011, being re-elected at every election since his first.
During his time in the Dáil, he held many significant Ministerial roles across a range of departments, leaving his mark in each. He served as Minister of State in several departments, including the Department of Finance, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education and Science, and the Department of Agriculture and Food.
After his retirement in 2011, Noel served as the Party's Director of Elections for both local and Dáil elections in Galway East and was also a valued member of our party's National Constituencies Committee for a number of years, playing a significant role in our Party's rebuilding and renewal.
Commenting on his passing, An Taoiseach and Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil Micheál Martin TD said “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Noel Treacy. Noel was an outstanding and dedicated public servant all of his life and gave a tremendous amount to his country to the people of Galway East and to Fianna Fáil. He had a great bond with his constituents, always representing and campaigning for them. As both a TD and a Minister, he brought integrity, energy, commitment and passion to his many ministerial positions throughout his career. Because Noel believed in just getting on with the job in hand many people may not be aware of the fact that he made an important contribution in key areas as a Minister. In particular, as Minister for Science and Technology he led at a critical time in putting in place key parts of out modern economy and as Minister for Europe, he worked tirelessly to make sure that Ireland was a constructive and effective member of the European Union.
I warmly remember his friendship, his warmth and welcoming smile. But most of all I remember a man with an infectious enthusiasm and energy. Noel loved his county, his country and his Party and left his mark on each.
"I want to express my deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, his children Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory, his grandchildren and to all his extended family and friends in Galway East and beyond at this difficult and sad time.”
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Is mian leis an Taoiseach agus Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil a chomhbhrón mór a ghabháil ar ócáid bhás a iarchomhghleacaí agus a chara dílis Nollaig Ó Treasaigh.
B'ionadaí pobail agus polaiteoir den scoth é a thug seirbhís iontach don tír. Bhí suim mhór aige ina phobal féin agus ina thír agus le linn a shaoil ghlac sé ról lárnach chun a phobal féin agus a thír a dhéanamh níos fearr le maireachtáil iontu inniu.
Ghlac Nollaig ballraíocht i bhFianna Fáil sa bhliain míle naoi gcéad seasca naoi nuair a bhí sé seacht mbliana déag d'aois. Tháinig sé isteach sa pholaitíocht sa bhliain míle naoi gcéad ochtó dó nuair a toghadh é go Dáil Éireann i bhfothoghchán. Thug Nollaig seirbhís den scoth dá Dháilcheantar, Gaillimh Thoir idir na blainta mile naoi gcéad ochtó dó agus dhá mhíle is a haon déag agus toghadh é arís agus arís eile ag gach toghchán eile ina raibh sé san iomaíocht óna chead cheann.
I rith a théarma sa Dáil, bhí Aireachtaí tábhachtacha eile thar mhórán Ranna aige agus d'fhág sé a rian ar gach ceann acu.
Bhí Nollaig ina Aire Stáit i roinnt mhaith Ranna Rialtais, ina measc, An Roinn Airgeadais, Roinn an Taoisigh, An Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, An Roinn Iompair, Fuinnimh agus Cumarsáide, An Roinn Fiontair, Trádála agus Fostaíochta agus freisin sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, agus an Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Bia.
Nuair a d'éirigh se as sa bhliain dhá mhíle is a haon déag bhí Nollaig ina Stíurthóir Toghchánaíochta do thoghcháin áitiúla agus don Dáil i nGaillimh Thoir agus ba bhall luachmhar den Choiste Náisiúnta Dáilcheantar é ar feadh roinnt blianta agus ghlac sé páirt riachtanach in aththógáil an Pháirtí agus athhnuachan an pháirtí.
Agus é ag tagairt do bhás Nollaig, dúirt an Taoiseach agus Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil Micheál Ó Máirtín:
Tá an-bhrón orm an scéal brónach a chloisteáil faoi bhás Noel Treacy. B'ionadaí pobail den scoth agus thar a bheith díograiseach fuinniúil é i rith a shaoil ar fad agus thug sé mórchuid dá shaol ag freastal ar a thír agus ar mhuintir na Gaillimhe Thoir agus thug sé mórchuid do pháirtí Fhianna Fáil. Bhí ceangal iontach aige lena thoghtóirí, ag déanamh ionadaíochta orthu agus ag feachtasaíocht ar a son. Mar Theachta Dála agus mar Aire, léirigh se ionracas,fuinneamh, tiomantas agus paisean ina chuid Aireachtaí le linn a shaoil sa pholaitíocht. Toisc gur chreid Nollaig gur cheart gach tasc a dhéanamh go maith ar an bpointe boise, ní raibh a fhios ag a lán daoine go raibh ról agus tionchar lárnach aige mar Aire, go háirithe mar Aire Eolaíochta agus Teicneolaíocht ina raibh baint mhór aige le cur i bhfeidhm mórchuid de ghnéithe den gheilleagar nua-aimseartha. Mar Aire na hEorpa, d'oibrigh sé gan stad gan staonadh chun deimhin a dhéanamh de go mbeadh Éire ina ball dearfach fiúntach éifeachtach den Aontas Eorpach
Beidh cuimhní geala maithe agam ar a chairdeas, a gháire croíúil fáilteach ach thar aon rud eile is cumihin liom fear den chéad scoth le fuinneamh agus le díograis dosháraithe. Bhí grá ag Noel dá chontae, dá thír agus dá pháirtí féin agus d'fhág sé a rian orthu go léir cinnte dearfa.
Ba mhian liom mo chomhbhrón a ghabháil lena bhean chéile Mary, a chlann, Joan, Emer, Lisa agus Rory, a gharpháistí, an teaghlach ar fad agus a chairde in Oirthear na Gaillimhe agus timpeall na tíre ar an ócáid bhrónach dhúshlánach seo.