Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Bhí deis agam cheana cúpla focal a rá anseo faoi Shéamus Ó Braonáin, díreach i ndiaidh a bháis. Is mian liom ómós a thabhairt dó arís, go háirithe os rud é go bhfuil a bhean chéile agus a chlann i láthair inniu.

Séamus Brennan was a hugely significant figure in Irish politics. He first emerged on the political scene when Jack Lynch had the courage to appoint such a young man as general secretary of Fianna Fáil. It proved to be an inspired choice as Séamus Brennan turned out to be an energetic and innovative general secretary, who piloted the modernisation of the Fianna Fáil organisation. The modernisation and reform of the Fianna Fáil organisation at that time is one reason for the electoral endurance of Fianna Fáil over the last quarter century.

It was inevitable that such a talented political figure would wish to seek election himself and it was a surprise neither when he stood for the Dáil in Dublin South in 1981 nor when he was elected. He served with distinction in a wide range of portfolios at both senior and junior ministerial level. He threw himself into whatever post he held with great enthusiasm. While he endured some ups and downs as Fianna Fáil leaders came and went, he always managed to hold on and bounce back. Séamus Brennan was a man with strong ideas and definite views. Although the Labour Party sometimes disagreed with those views, he always was prepared to discuss them, listen to alternative viewpoints and to have a calm and rational discussion.

Modern politics can be a rough and sometimes brutal business but there was never a nasty word or phrase from Séamus Brennan. He was the essential political gentleman. He was a long-serving Government Chief Whip, which is never the easiest of jobs, and often, particularly in the circumstances in which he served, is an especially difficult one. It was in this capacity that the Opposition had most dealings with him. All those in the Labour Party who dealt with Séamus Brennan as Minister and as Whip found him to be a man of exceptional courtesy and consideration.

Séamus was particularly dedicated to the people of Dublin South, who rewarded that dedication by returning him at election after election with a huge vote. It was a remarkable achievement to have been elected for Dublin South in nine successive general elections and I cannot recall any occasion when he was regarded as being in electoral trouble. Séamus's constituency and mine are neighbours and our paths regularly crossed. I recall telling the House on a previous occasion of a time when I inherited some election workers from him. I had the opposite experience on the day of his funeral because as I left the church, I met some people I had not seen for a while and to whom I had given assistance at various times, such as getting them housed in Ballyogan, Ballyboden and various places in Séamus's constituency. While they were delighted to see me at the funeral, they made it clear to me that their allegiance had shifted solidly to Séamus in their new constituency.

Séamus and I both are from Galway and we often discussed matters relating to Galway together, such as Galway hurling, football, people or politics. The last time I met Séamus socially was at an event in NUIG, at which the university gave him an award of which he was very proud. He endured his illness with characteristic courage and dignity and on behalf of the Labour Party, I wish to extend my sympathies to Ann, their children and to all his colleagues in Fianna Fáil. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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