THE FORMER FIANNA Fáil TD Noel Davern has passed away suddenly at the age of 67.

The former MEP – from 1979 to 1984 – and TD for Tipperary South had retired before the 2007 general election. He served as Education Minister from 1991 to 1992.

Another former Fianna Fáil TD, Denis Foley, also died this weekend.

He was a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee but resigned from Fianna Fáil in 2000 when it was revealed that he held an Ansbacher account.

He passed away at his home in Tralee yesterday. He had represented the Kerry North constituency.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin expressed his condolences to the families of both men this evening. He said that the sudden death of Noel Davern had “shocked and saddened”. Martin said:

Noel had a great sense of community representation and public service which is not hard to understand given his family’s legacy in public service over many years. Noel was known in politics for his kind nature and good sense of humour. He was a passionate public servant who never shied away from representing his constituents at a local, national or European level.

Noel Davern is survived by his wife Anne Marie and children Don, Marc and Davina.

Martin also sympathised with the family of Denis Foley; his wife Hannah, daughters Norma, Margaret and Denise and son William; and said he was saddened by his death.

He said that Denis’s daughter Norma, a “committed local councillor”, was continuing the “family’s tradition of public service”.