Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

We are not in the least embarrassed to say it. When Séamus Brennan was general secretary of Fianna Fáil, he made a huge effort to encourage young people to join the party. He attracted a number of people, including a several Members who joined the party as a direct result of his efforts to get young people interested in politics.

The last big job he and I did together was the formation of the Government. It was said at the time that with two people like myself and the Taoiseach, a peacemaker was needed in the middle to ensure the negotiations were successfully concluded. Séamus certainly filled that role.

I pay tribute to him and extend my deepest sympathies to his family, especially his wife Ann, his children, Shay, Daire, Aoife, Sine, Breffni and Éanna, and his wider family, including his brother, who heads an agency of the Department of Transport. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.