Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón pearsanta agus comhbhrón Pháirtí Fhianna Fáil a chur in iúl don Teach ar bhás Shéamuis Ó Braonáin. Ba mhaith liom cású freisin lena bhean céile Ann agus lena seisear clainne. Is cinnte gur ócáid an-bhrónach scéal a bháis dúinn ar fad. Bhí an pholaitíocht go smior i Séamus Ó Braonáin. Óna chéad laethanta mar mhac léinn san ollscoil ina chathair dúchais, Gaillimh, bhí a lámh ariamh sa bpolaitíocht. Le linn dó a bheith mar Ard Rúnaí ar Fhianna Fáil, d'éirigh leis go leor leasuithe agus athruithe a chur i bhfeidhm. Ceannródaí ab ea é mar Aire. Ba bheag leis stádas na hoifige ach ba mhór leis spriocanna a bhaint amach. Leas an phobail, feabhas an tsaoil agus dul chun cinn na tíre na clocha ba mhó ar a pháidrín. Ní raibh aon éirí in airde ag baint le Séamus. Seirbhís phoiblí agus cúram dá chlann, Shay, Daire, Aoife, Sine, Breffni agus Éanna agus a chéile Ann, a chuid príomh cuspóirí.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Deputy Séamus Brennan overnight. On my own behalf as Taoiseach and as uachtarán of Fianna Fáil, I convey my sincere sympathies to Ms Ann Brennan and her family on the death of Séamus. He will be deeply mourned by all sections of our organisation, our parliamentary party, our national executive and in every cumann throughout the State. In the coming days we will reflect on Séamus's immense contribution to Fianna Fáil's welfare and on his proud career of public service. His untimely death at the age of 60 will be deeply felt in this House and throughout Ireland.

Séamus Brennan has made a massive contribution to our country. He was at the front line of Irish politics for more than 35 years and for that entire period, he served our nation and the Fianna Fáil Party with great distinction. He will be remembered as a brilliant political strategist, a dedicated constituency Deputy, a reforming Minister and a very popular colleague. He will be hugely missed.

Deputy Brennan had deep roots in our party organisation. His father was a prominent Fianna Fáil activist and director of elections in Galway. Séamus became active in Fianna Fáil as a student. He first came to national prominence when Jack Lynch appointed him general secretary of Fianna Fáil in the mid-1970s. He was our party's youngest ever general secretary and he brought great enthusiasm to the role as well as unrivalled organisational skills. His efforts in revitalising the Fianna Fáil organisation, alongside his genius for electoral politics, played a significant part in ensuring a landslide victory for the party in the general election of 1977.

He was appointed to Seanad Éireann by Jack Lynch in that year. In 1981, he successfully contested his first general election. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in nine successive general elections by the people of Dublin South, frequently topping the poll. His great commitment to his constituents and to public service made him a formidable vote gatherer and a great asset to our party. He had a keen political acumen and understood better than most the importance of communicating a political message. As a Minister, he was a committed public servant in the cause of our country. He was a practical Cabinet colleague who thrived on bringing forward proposed solutions to the challenges the nation faced. He was an able and capable administrator in each of the offices of State he held.

He first served as Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Commerce, with special responsibility for trade and marketing, in 1987, before being appointed Minister for Tourism and Transport by the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, in 1989. In a long and distinguished ministerial career, he also served as Minister for Education, Minister for Communications, Minister for Transport and Minister for Social and Family Affairs. He served with distinction as Government Chief Whip from 1997 to 2002 and played a significant role in ensuring that Administration completed its full term.

At the core of his political philosophy was his belief that a strong economy geared towards maximising employment was the best means by which wider social objectives could be achieved. As a Minister his achievements were numerous. His establishment of the Small Business Forum brought great change and improvement for small businesses. In his highly successful tenure at the Department of Social and Family Affairs, he negotiated significant welfare increases for the most vulnerable in society. In education, he published a Green Paper which placed special emphasis on giving priority to disadvantaged students and was the genesis for much subsequent policy development. As Minister for Transport, he brought forward many new initiatives in air transport services.

I served with Séamus in the Governments of Albert Reynolds and Deputy Bertie Ahern. I knew him to be a reforming Minister with a strategic mind and a huge grasp of public policy. He played a significant role in shaping the Ireland in which we live. I acknowledge his key role in the negotiations which led to the formation of the current Fianna Fáil-Green Party-Progressive Democrats Party Government with Independent support.

Séamus Brennan was a man of great courtesy. He faced his illness with great dignity and fortitude. He never complained and despite his declining health, he continued to work for his constituents and for the Government. I recall my last meeting with him during the campaign on the Lisbon treaty referendum. Even though he was battling a serious illness, his enthusiasm, commitment and innate courtesy were such that he joined me and other colleagues on the hustings in south Dublin. I remember a brave and courageous man, exchanging words of encouragement upon my arrival and, subsequently, the parting words, firm handshake and the inevitable smile that sought to reassure that all would be well.

I extend my deepest sympathy to Séamus's family, especially his wife, Ann, and his children, Shay, Daire, Aoife, Sine, Breffni and Éanna, as well as his wider family and wide circle of friends. Braon de dhrúcht na bhflaitheas agus deoch de thobar na ngrásta, go mbeannaí Dia d'anam a Shéamuis.

See this speech in context