Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I join the Taoiseach and other party representatives in expressing my sympathy to Ann Brennan and her family — Daire, Sine, Aoife, Breffni, Shay and Éanna.

The death of Séamus Brennan on 9 July saddened us all. The death of a young man, aged just 60, who had only retired from Cabinet two months earlier, was something none of us was quite ready for. In the three months since his death, it is still hard to believe he is not among us. When we returned after the summer break, one would have imagined seeing Séamus Brennan again because he had been in this House for the past 31 years.

I first got to know Séamus Brennan when I was a very young student in Trinity College. He was very encouraging to young people. When I was around 21 he said to me that I should aspire to being a candidate in the upcoming election in 1977. Needless to say that was not top of my agenda and nor did I think it was even a possibility. In 1977, he called me and left a message — this was before the mobile phone era — and when I rang him he told me I was to run in Dublin South-East.

For somebody who, like Deputy Gilmore and Séamus Brennan, had west of Ireland origins but had grown up in west Dublin, Dublin South-East was a foreign territory. I asked him where it was and he told me it took in Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and Goatstown. I said I did not know anybody there and nobody would vote for me. He said he and his wife would vote for me so I had at least two votes. Off I went with my two votes — in the end I think I got 1,599, not even making 1,600.

Since then I was very friendly with Séamus. Right from the start he and Ann were a formidable political pair. There were two politicians in that house and part of Séamus Brennan's success was the enormous political insight, talent and skill of his wife. The story recalled by Deputy Kenny about when he was being politically assaulted in Finsbury Park shows that only somebody like Ann Brennan would have the wherewithal to come to the Deputy's rescue.

It is often said that death is not the greatest loss — the greatest loss is what dies inside us as we live. For the Brennan family, their loss is absolutely immense. As Séamus went through his illness he was partly in denial but more than anything else, he was determined to get better. He did not become a victim to his illness. As he sat around the Cabinet table with his colleagues we could occasionally observe that he was not well, but he was as determined and focused as ever. He made the usual sensible contributions to a variety of issues, not just those which affected his Department.

When Séamus went from an economic Ministry to social welfare, many wondered how he would cope. He was passionate about the economy and had a significant interest in economic matters, particularly those related to transport. He took on the cause of the less well-off in our society with a passion and commitment that was truly remarkable. It was hard to believe he had not spent his life in that Department. He gave everything to every job he had.

Above all else, he will be remembered for the Luas. I remember when we were in the Seanad sometime between 1977 and 1979, he spoke about opening the Harcourt Street line. I admit I thought it was a daft notion. I know in the intervening years there were many detractors and opponents when the project was in planning and under construction but today it is a treasure. It is ironic yet fitting that he should be buried in the shadow of the bridge in Dundrum, in St. Nahi's cemetery. Séamus could not have wished for more.

Aside from the Luas and transport issues being a permanent memory to him, he was a great political organiser. I remember when he went to America for the Carter and Ford election contest in 1976 and came back with all the razzmatazz, such as the song "Your Kind of Country", t-shirts and so on. Many of us wore them at the time, believe it or not. I wonder what he would bring back if he was in America today, observing the contest between Obama and Biden on one side and McCain and Palin on the other. He would probably e-mail hockey clubs looking for a supermum or send a personalised message to "Joe Six-Pack".

Séamus was not just a political machine and he had a great personal touch. I remember just before the last election one of my advisers, who lives in Dublin South, got a wonderful personal message thanking him for all his work for the Government and wishing him and his wife all the best. Séamus did not ask for a vote. We were impressed because we knew Séamus must have at least suspected he would not get the number one vote but he did not ask for any vote. He got a very high preference as a result. About two days later somebody else who works for me received a different personal message. That was a not a political machine at work; there was a unique personal touch in it.

Many people have spoken about his dignity and calmness. He never used personal invective in political debate as he did not think it had any role in the political process. That is the reason he genuinely got on so well with everybody in persuading people.

I remarked very early in my career on his capacity to get great publicity for what were sometimes very minor stories. It was not unusual to pick up a Sunday broadsheet with a headline about something that did not seem, in the grand scheme of things, to be worthy but Séamus was a master at communicating a message, either directly or indirectly through the print media. He was a very formidable political opponent.

Ann and the family are deeply grateful for the significant support received from Séamus's doctors, particularly his general practitioner, Dr. Michael Meehan, Dr. Fennelly and his team and Dr. Frank Sullivan. I know Ann would like this mentioned because both she and Séamus were eternally grateful for the wonderful care that he received.

They say true dignity is not gained by place nor lost when honours are withdrawn. Séamus Brennan had dignity, calmness, friendship and a huge pride in his family. Notwithstanding how busy he was, his family brought him great pride and he gave much time to them. As each of his children grew up, he was immensely proud of their achievements.

He is a huge loss to Ann and her family, as well as to the Fianna Fáil Party. He was deeply committed to Fianna Fáil and as I stated here on the morning of his passing, I know this because I tried to get him to leave on a couple of occasions without any success. He is a great loss because he had great insights into how people thought, how things might work and how to sell political messages. That is why he was so popular not just in his own constituency, but throughout the country.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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