The scheduled sitting of the Dail was adjourned yesterday as a mark of respect to Mr Michael Ferris, the Labour Party TD who died suddenly on Monday evening. Expressions of sympathy from the Taoiseach, party leaders and parliamentary colleagues will be taken before the Order of Business in the Dail this morning.
Mr Ferris had been a TD for Tipperary South since 1989. He entered national politics in 1975 when he was elected to the Seanad. He was a member of the Seanad from 1975 to 1977 and again from 1981 to 1989.
Born in Bansha, Co Tipperary in 1931, Mr Ferris was educated at the Salesian Agricultural College in Tipperary and prior to his political career worked as a director and secretary to a veterinary practice. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and four daughters and two sons.
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said Mr Ferris would be deeply missed by all of his colleagues and friends in the Labour Party.
He said Mr Ferris "was a loyal, hard-working and universally popular TD who had friends on all sides of Dail Eireann. He was an outstanding public representative who carried the Labour flag in Tipperary South during good times and bad with courage and pride."
He had been a Labour Party member of Tipperary (SR) County Council since 1967 and had served as council chairman on three occasions.