Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was very sorry to hear of the passing of former Taoiseach John Bruton yesterday. Through his long career, he had a significant impact on politics and life in this State, and 'though we held very clear and very important political differences, I want to express my respect for John Bruton's commitment to public service and to representing people.

It speaks to his dedication and resilience that he was a Teachta Dála for 35 years. It is to his great credit that he gained and maintained the trust and support of the people of Meath for more than three decades, having been first elected to the Dáil in 1969 at the age of just 22. His considerable abilities and work ethic saw him appointed to a range of important ministerial offices over the course of those 35 years. He cut his teeth as Parliamentary Secretary or junior Minister in the areas of industry and education from 1973 to 1977. In 1981, at the age of 34, he was appointed as Minister for Finance by Garret FitzGerald - an office that he held twice. He also served as Minister for Industry and Energy, Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Industry, Trade Commerce and Tourism in those Fine Gael-led Governments of the 1980s.

John Bruton was devoted to Fine Gael and took his responsibilities to the party and to his colleagues very seriously. In opposition, he worked hard as a front bench spokesperson and later as deputy leader of the party. That work and perseverance was rewarded in November 1990 when he succeeded Alan Dukes as leader of Fine Gael. In 1994, following the collapse of Albert Reynolds's Government, John Bruton seized the moment and demonstrated notable skill in negotiating the formation of a new three-party coalition Government, and at the age of 47, became the youngest ever Taoiseach at that time. It was, of course, the first time in the history of the State that a government was formed without a general election. He is credited by many colleagues, as we have heard, and commentators for his effective chairmanship and leadership of that coalition.

As you know, a Cheann Comhairle, John Bruton and my own party had deep and very serious disagreements during what was a very fraught period of the peace process. That is no secret. However, a notable achievement of his Government was its success in passing the divorce referendum in November 1995. Following defeat in the 1997 general election, John Bruton again served as Leader of the Opposition for another four years. Having survived three leadership challenges, his time as Fine Gael leader came to an end in 2001, after a decade at the helm. He held his Dáil seat until 2004 and then he became, as we know, the EU ambassador to the United States.

Throughout his career, John Bruton was a politician of deeply held beliefs. He was a conservative, an advocate of market-driven economics and a very strong proponent of the European Union. These were beliefs about which he thought deeply and which he articulated with notable passion. I profoundly disagreed with his viewpoint and positions on many issues, not least our revolutionary history and the Easter Rising, in particular. However, I know that his perspective was sincerely held. John Bruton was a proponent of the Redmondite political tradition and he proudly displayed a photo of John Redmond on the wall of the Taoiseach's office. Although it was not a view I shared, I recognise it was his sincere view of history and he relished defending it, always honestly, in open debate.

Ba fhear dea-mhúinte, uasal agus cruthanta i gcónaí é John Bruton. Rinne sé an-seirbhís ar son an Stáit seo agus mhuintir na Mí. John Bruton was always courteous. He was a true gentleman and he did this State and the people of Meath some considerable service. He was Taoiseach, Minister, TD and a statesman.

However, to his beloved Finola, who unwaveringly stood by his side, he was a dear husband. To Matthew, Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth, he was a devoted dad, and to their children, he was a doting grandfather. To Mary, his sister, and to our Dáil colleague Richard, he was a loving brother. In life, we are all shaped by those who love us most; in death, our memory is sustained by those who miss us most. My thoughts and prayers today are with those who loved and who will miss John Bruton most, his family, his friends and his colleagues in Fine Gael. On behalf of myself and Sinn Féin, I offer today our most sincere condolences. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

See this speech in context