FINE GAEL LEADER Leo Varadkar has led the tributes to former Minister and TD Austin Deasy, who passed away at the age of 80 after a short illness.

Deasy was a Fine Gael TD for Waterford from 1977 to 2002.

He served as Minister for Agriculture in 1982 by then-Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and served for four years.

Deasy’s son – John Deasy – is currently a sitting TD for Waterford.

Paying tribute to Deasy, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar paid his sympathies to his family.

“I wish to convey my deepest sympathies to the Deasy family on the news that Austin Deasy has passed away,” said Deasy.

“Austin had a long career in public service, first entering politics in 1967 on Dungarvan District Council.

“He went on to serve in the Cabinet, Dáil and Seanad, and was well-loved and respected by the people of Waterford whom he was proud to represent, and of the course the people of Dungarvan which is my mother’s home town.

I met Austin on a number of occasions. The one that stands out though was one afternoon almost twenty years ago when he came to speak to us as students in the Trinity Branch of Fine Gael.

He argued that Fine Gael needed to be distinctive in terms of policy and have a clear mission and raison d’être in order to secure support and bring the country forward. It’s advice that has stuck with me ever since.

My thoughts are with Austin’s wife Kathleen; daughters Sally and Jane; sons Jamie and John, who carries on the proud Deasy tradition of public service today in the Dáil.

Read: Adams hits back at ‘hurler on the ditch’ Martin over Sinn Féin abstentionism