Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party, I join in the expression of sympathy to the family of the late Deputy Séamus Brennan. To his wife Ann, his two sons and four daughters, we offer our sincere sympathy. We also offer condolences to the Fianna Fáil Party, in which Séamus Brennan was a long serving and leading member.

Séamus Brennan was courteous and friendly, and was willing to listen and engage with all sides in the Dáil. I had the privilege of being with him in Boston in 2004, when we addressed a number of meetings on the Northern peace process. Throughout that day, he was courteous and generous, and understood the desire of the Irish American community for a successful conclusion to the peace process. It was a long day and later on that night, I thought he was about to look for an application form to join Sinn Féin. He left a striking presence in my mind from that day on.

While it was known that he was ill, he bore this illness without any fuss or attention, but he has now passed away at the relatively young age of 60. No doubt he would have much more to contribute to public life had he survived his illness, and he deserves the respect for the contribution he made over his long career. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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