Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I am glad to have the opportunity to commiserate with the Brennan family on the death of a man I knew all my life. As I look at all the Brennan children, I am reminded of the times I baby-sat for the family, which highlights how long our families have known each other. Séamus was a great man, as Senator Feeney reminded me, for giving a person a job, which was usually to baby-sit or caddy. I got to know Séamus first during the great holidays in Connemara which we all shared. It is testament to the public service he gave that I did not realise he was also a Senator because his career in the public service was very long. Many people have referred to his time in the Fianna Fáil organisation and the way he transformed politics and the election winning organisation that is Fianna Fáil. He had a great deal to do with that. More important, he gave great public service when he was called to serve as a Minister. His legacy remains in every Department in which he served and I regret he was not left more often to do what came naturally to him, which was to reform.

Senator Boyle referred to him opening up the country to competition through the transport sector and aviation. There was a touch of Lemass about Séamus Brennan and the contribution he made. He was as significant as Lemass as he moved us out of a more insular era into something new. He embraced competition and, in doing so, transformed Irish life. I am sorry he was not given the opportunity to do that in the bus sector and other areas. Reform and public service were the bywords of what he did.

It is lovely that the team who were always with him are present, particularly Frank Lahiffe. When I started out in politics, we were always at events together and wherever Frank was, Séamus was never far behind. He was served by a dedicated team and a dedicated family.

Since Séamus's death, the closeness of his family has emerged. I hope it offers some comfort to them to be present for these tributes. While he is not with us, he will never be forgotten in the House because of the exceptional figure he was. It is nice to reflect on and be reminded of him again.