Alex White (Labour)

Given the extraordinary contribution Séamus Brennan made in the constituency of Dublin South and nationally, it is not surprising that many people I meet on a daily basis in the constituency refer to how sad it is he has passed. It is striking the number of times people of all parties and of all persuasions and none repeatedly express their sadness about this to me, a political opponent of his, almost as if they want to express that feeling to anybody in political life because they had so much trust in him and relied on him for many years.

I am a relative newcomer to politics but my experience of meeting Séamus Brennan first and dealing with him subsequently was always positive. He was welcoming and friendly. He was a political opponent and people are always watching out for what is important in that regard but, on a human level, he was extremely helpful to me and extremely amiable and decent as an individual. He was an extraordinarily successful representative of the people of Dublin South and many people remark on that regularly. He has left an extraordinary gap at local and national level. Séamus Brennan was a significant figure on the political landscape for more than 30 years, going back to the 1970s, which is an amazing stretch. To have died at such a relatively young age while having been around politics for so long and having achieved so much as a Minister, in his party and in both Houses is extraordinary. I hope that is some consolation to his wife and family on their sad loss earlier this year.

I first got to know Séamus Brennan when I was a programme and radio producer in RTE covering general elections. One thing that always struck me about him was that while most, although not all, politicians were quite happy to be invited to go on radio and television, some were not very accommodating. I found him to be most accommodating; he was always available. One could have a late night programme with coverage of election results, from which people would go home very tired and perhaps a little grumpy because of the result, and it was always very difficult to get people to speak the following morning at ten o'clock when the public wanted to know what had happened over night. Séamus was somebody on whom one could rely. He would come in and, as broadcasters would say, was always good value. He always had an observation, an insight. Whereas he of course was partisan in the sense that we all are called upon to be partisan in this business, he also was capable of rising above that partisanship and being able to see the big picture.

When listening to Senator Boyle I recalled the television coverage of the 2007 election results when the wooing, if I can call it that, was starting to happen — some people can notice that more easily than others — and there were exchanges of glances across the table at some of Senator Boyle's colleagues coming from the Fianna Fáil side in the studio. Séamus, even then, was doing what he did so well and did best, which was, as somebody said recently, not closing any doors, keeping all doors open. He was very good at that.

I, personally, am very sad that Séamus has gone from us at such a young age. I am very much conscious of what my colleague Senator Corrigan said. Séamus Brennan made an extremely positive contribution to the people in Dublin South, to politics nationally and, I am sure, and most importantly of all, as a father and as a husband. I wish to be associated most sincerely with the expressions of sympathy to Séamus's family on his sad loss.