Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the wife and family of the late Senator Tony Kett. I also welcome Deputy Cyprian Brady and former Senator Chris Wall. It is lovely to see the former Senator here along with the family. I welcome Noreen and all the family to the House and acknowledge the achievements of a great friend and colleague.

It is with great sadness I pay a tribute to a true, great friend and colleague, Senator Tony Kett. Tony was someone for whom I had great personal admiration. He was a truly wonderful person, a highly intelligent Member of Seanad Éireann and a truly excellent public representative. He was an astute, hard working and capable person who was determined to get things done. He will be remembered for his tremendous organisational skills, particularly those that saw the achievement of the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, in being elected to Dáil Éireann from 1977 to date.

Tony was co-opted onto Dublin Corporation in 1988 and, in the following 15 years, he served the people of Dublin with tremendous dedication. Along with his perseverance and commitment, this saw him re-elected at every local election until 2004, when he stepped down under the dual mandate rule, which prevented Members of the Oireachtas from serving on local councils.

He was first elected to Seanad Éireann in 1997 on the Administrative Panel and was subsequently re-elected in 2002 and 2007. As a three-time Member of the Seanad, he was especially passionate about education and issues relating to people with disabilities. He will be remembered for his great work with the Central Remedial Clinic and his efforts to improve services for children and adults with physical disabilities.

Tony was well regarded by all for his hard work, enthusiasm and warm personality. He will be particularly remembered for his unwavering courtesy and the old-fashioned good manners he displayed to those he met. He treated everyone with equal respect and consideration. It was this courteous and respectful manner that endeared him to all who knew him.

His contributions in public and behind the scenes helped to raise awareness of the many different problems facing those with disabilities. His only aim was to make life better for all of those who were less fortunate than him or us. He spoke with passion and enthusiasm, commanding the respect of all in the House. Tony was an honourable man. He was loyal to the people he served. For more than two decades, he was an immensely popular figure. His loss will be widely felt by his constituents, friends and colleagues.

A native of Woodlawn, Ballinasloe in County Galway, Tony was a proud supporter of the Galway hurling team, as everyone in the House knows. As an adopted son of Dublin's north side, he was more than supportive of the Dubs except, as we all know, in the 1983 All-Ireland Football final when the blues won. He married Noreen and had three children, Jason, Jennifer and Joanne. Every Member on this side of the House knew Tony to be a loyal member of Fianna Fáil, a party of which he was proud. He was a staunch defender and upholder of the traditional values for which he stood. We on this side of the House will miss him dearly.

I am privileged to have served as Leader three times during Tony's tenure as a Senator. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for the loyalty of his service and for the sound advice and friendship he gave me personally. However, the greatest loss must surely be felt by his family. I would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Noreen, his three children Jason, Jennifer and Joanne, his daughter-in-law Zoe, his adored granddaughter Isabelle, his brothers Eric and Shay, his sisters Ann, Rose and Pat, and his nieces and nephews. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam.