Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an rún comhbhróin atá molta ag an dTaoiseach as ucht báis Séamus Ó Braonáin. Tá sé oiriúnach go bhfuil a bhean chéile, Áine, agus a seisear chlainne anseo sa Dáil inniu. I outlined the achievements of the late Séamus Brennan when we spoke in this House following his untimely death. One of the nice things about this Parliament is that tribute is paid to fallen warriors. It is a very Irish thing to do.

I will not outline again the political achievements that are the legacy of Séamus Brennan, except to say that in my experience over the years he was somebody who was always exceptionally approachable. He had an extraordinarily warm personality and was never afraid to seek out public representatives in public places, irrespective of the party for which they were elected or of none, in order to make that connection and to show respect for the person whom voters had selected through the ballot box.

Séamus and I might have been formidable opponents in politics over the years but I would like to thank his widow, Ann, for her courtesy and personal hospitality when I visited Finsbury Park, the Brennan home. It was nice for a politician to be in the kitchen, to see where the late Minister would have had his breakfast and spoken with his family about issues of political importance and the day's events. It gave a flavour of that family and, in this case, of Fianna Fáil Cabinet representation. I say this even though I came under some personal pressure. When I left the house I was corralled on the street by an over-enthusiastic constituent who had a particular gripe that he wanted to voice to me, vociferously and at length. In a way that only the wife of a politician could handle and understand Ann despatched from her kitchen a member of her entourage to deal with the matter and I thank her for that.

People sometimes assume that Ministers should not be visited by serious illness. Séamus Brennan understood that his death was imminent. We spoke about that, as I have mentioned before. When this happens to a family, as it has done in many cases in this House, people believe and know it will happen but find it so strange nonetheless. As the Taoiseach pointed out, Séamus Brennan bore his illness with great courage and dignity and was an example to anybody else who has a similar terminal illness.

In his capacity as public representative, he was an example to anybody who aspires to serve in politics. This was evident in the way he put his priorities, in how he looked after his constituents and tended to their needs as best he could. He demonstrated the theory of good democratic politics by being able to reflect those concerns, anxieties and difficulties and by sitting at the Cabinet table and having them reflected in legislation.

Shortly before he died, in the foreword of the booklet for the Bealtaine festival which dealt with elderly people, he wrote:

The vibrant 21st century Ireland we now enjoy has been built on the dedication, sacrifice and vision of generations who are now growing older. But that is the very reason why older voices and a lifetime's experience have still so much to offer in enriching the arts for all of us to enjoy.

He had a real feeling for a vein of public life in Ireland that was highly accurate and typical of him. I will conclude by recalling that a number of years ago, I stood with him in Brennan's Yard in Galway. It was part of his family connection and he told me it was where he was from, where he began and was what he was. In commiserating with the Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil Party on the loss of a stalwart member and to Ann Brennan and her family, I note the quiet voice of Galway and Dublin South has been stilled. However, his spirit and legacy is there for all to see. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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