Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Chuir sé isteach go mór orm nuair a chuala mé faoi bhás Bhrian Uí Luineacháin. Ar son mo pháirtí-se agus ar son an Rialtais ba mhaith liom mo chómhbhrón a ghabháil lena pháirtí, Fianna Fáil, agus le ceannaire Fhianna Fáil, Mícheál Ó Máirtín. Déanaim rún comhbhróin dhílis dá mháthair, Áine, dá bhean chéile Pádraigín, dá chlann, Tomás agus Clár, dá dheartháireacha, Pól, Niall agus Conchúr agus dá dheirfiúr, Anita, as ucht bhás Bhrian.

No words of mine can adequately deal with the sense of loss felt by Brian Lenihan's family. I recall the eloquence of the silence, and indeed the applause, in Porterstown Church yesterday, where I attended his funeral. I spoke to Brian Lenihan on a number of occasions in the House, particularly on the last occasion I met him before his last attendance here. He said, "I really shouldn't be here". The job he held in the Department of Finance gave him that extra challenge to cope with his debilitating illness and the job of getting on with life. I listened to his open and candid interview when his problem was first diagnosed. The openness and courage with which he explained what his medical problem was and how he intended to cope with it was a revelation.

Brian Lenihan exhibited a great sense of humanity, particularly when he chaired the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution and during the five years when he was Minister of State with responsibility for Children. When he was appointed Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, he had a real attraction to the work and showed a real inclination to make serious changes in the way our judicial and legal system operates. Events moved on and he was appointed Minister for Finance. The scale of the chasm in front of him became apparent to him very quickly.

He exemplified a love of politics and an association with people. Far from being locked into an individual or political rut, Brian Lenihan would always break off to talk to people from other parties, of other persuasions or with other interests. He demonstrated that ability on a regular basis.

His facing up to a terminal illness as he did and the openness with which he spoke about it to everybody is a lesson for every person. His funeral brought home to everyone elected to this House, and those who might think they are above their station, that at the end of the line the tricolour will fly at half mast for everyone who is in this Chamber.

I like to think Brian Lenihan will be remembered as a politician who made a contribution and constantly strove to bring out the best in politics. We argued and had many reasons to argue differences of political opinion but as a person, as a representative of politics and of the country and in the constitutional ministries he held, I always regarded Brian as a friend.

The words of Louis McNeice come to mind, "By a high star our course is set". Brian Lenihan's course was set by a high star. Fate and time intervened to prevent him from, possibly, achieving higher office in which I know he had an interest.

I offer with Deputy Martin and the Fianna Fáil Party my condolences to Brian Lenihan's mother, Ann, his wife, Patricia, his children, Tom and Clare, and the broader Lenihan family. I commend them on their contribution to public life and sympathise with them on the loss of a husband, father, political representative and politician. That was epitomised by the numbers who turned up to pay their last respects to somebody for whom they had an affinity, regardless of whether they agreed with his politics. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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