Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

It is fitting that we should pay tribute to our late colleague, Séamus Brennan, in the Chamber that marked the start of his life as a public representative. It is difficult to say more than has been said about Séamus. He was a man who touched all our lives and he devoted his entire professional life to politics. In the course of that time, he served the Fianna Fáil Party as general secretary, the Dublin South people as their TD and the people of Ireland as a Minister. During the Lisbon treaty referendum campaign, as people became aware of Séamus's illness, I was approached by constituents who recalled their dealings with him. They spoke of the occasions he assisted them in times of trouble and the occasions he had been with them in times of adversity and made a difference to them and their families. They recalled those moments with genuine affection for him.

When one reflects on the many tributes paid, one cannot but be struck by the deep unspoken respect in which Séamus was held by colleagues across the political spectrum throughout the years. While I, like others, will remember many things about Séamus, a particular characteristic became his trademark, which was a calm and determined approach to public affairs, always seeking to rationalise between the most strongly held opinions in the most heated of debates. This sense of calm was always effective, even in very difficult circumstances, and on many occasions he went before the public and defended the Fianna Fáil Party and the Government.

This tribute provides us with a fitting opportunity to reflect on Séamus, the public service he undertook and the contribution he made. Therein lies the necessity to appreciate the importance of public service and the contribution each of us has the potential to make. Most significantly, occasions such as this, particularly given the untimely nature of Séamus's passing, bring home to us the preciousness of life and the importance of us valuing and making the most of every moment we are blessed to have because those moments will pass and we will all be no more.

I extend my deepest sympathy to Séamus's wife, Ann, and to Shay, Daire, Aoife, Breffni, Sine and Éanna, his brothers and sister, his extended family, his friends, his loyal team of staff, including Frank, Bobby and Mary, and his supporters. This year has brought an immeasurable loss and sadness to them. May Séamus rest in peace.