Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome Ms Noreen Kett and her family and Tony's extended family. I also welcome the representatives from the CRC, Central Remedial Clinic, and his friends, particularly Deputy Cyprian Brady and former Senator Chris Wall. I welcome them to hear these lovely tributes to the late Tony.

I also wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to Noreen and the family of the late Senator Tony Kett. Tony was elected to the Seanad in 1997 where he served with true distinction on policy issues relating to education and disability. I shared an office with Tony for 12 years. He was not only a colleague but also a very good friend and a confidant whom I felt I could trust implicitly. Tony was a great one-to-one person. He was a man with whom to bounce ideas and problems due to his honesty and innate ability to listen combined with great political knowledge and understanding of how the political system worked. I can safely say he was never wrong in the sound advice he gave me and I miss that invaluable trust terribly.

He also had immense expertise in a number of policy areas. He was a regular contributor to Seanad debates on a variety of subjects. I remember him on many occasions sitting in the office preparing a speech. Very often he would read out paragraphs from his speech to ask me for my opinion.

As a knowledgeable man with a wide range of interests, he would speak at length on different topics but his great policy passions were education and issues concerning people with disabilities. Tony was extremely passionate about these subjects and any Seanad debate on these issues would include an intelligent and insightful contribution from him.

A large part of that insight came from his work in the Central Remedial Clinic. He never tired of relating incidents and stories of his time at the clinic and his many experiences there. The people he had encountered in the clinic left a lasting impression on Tony and clearly had a significant influence on his outlook on life and on his policy beliefs.

When he spoke on disability issues one could see the various personalities he had met at the clinic shining through in his words. This was one of Tony's great skills as a politician and as a public representative. He was always able to look at complex legislation and bring it back to its practical implications.

It is fair to say that Irish education and the fight for better rights for those with disabilities has lost a great champion following Tony's death. He was a marvellous character and he would often have great banter and teasing. He was always there for his colleagues. At the many conferences we attended as a group it was evident he enjoyed the camaraderie and good fun with his councillor colleagues and we relished being in his company. I will always remember towards the end of an evening at a conference how people would gravitate towards him because he was a fantastic singer. He would begin with a rendition of "The Town I Loved So Well" and then go on to perform many more. I always admired the way he managed to bring all parties together with this talent and likability. This is something we will miss terribly but we will also take with us, especially at this time. Tony was remarkably popular in the Seanad and the Dáil. Everyone had time for him and was keen to help him in any way possible, especially during his very serious illness. I refer especially to Senator Wilson in this regard. Other party members were also willing to help Tony because he had built such a strong rapport with everyone he met, regardless of party allegiance.

Tony was nature's gentleman, so kind, easy-going and a great listener. He was a proud family man and spoke fondly of his wife, Noreen; his son, Jason, and his wife, Zoe; and his two daughters, Joanne and Jenifer. I felt I knew them very well because of the daily commentary I received on their successes and achievements, of which there were many. He was delighted when his granddaughter, Isabelle, arrived last year. It was very obvious to me at that stage what a fantastic father and grandfather he was.

Kathleen Redmond who works as my secretary was Tony's secretary and talks of him dearly. Tony was very fond of Kathleen and the feeling was mutual. The three of us enjoyed a wonderful working relationship and Kathleen and I cherish the great memories we have of Tony. I very much miss seeing him on the other side of the office table, where he would greet me every week with, "Well, Ms Southside, what is your whinge this week?" Often, I responded with the words, "Well, Mr. Northside...," but will not repeat the many comments that followed in reply, as they are not printable. We always had such banter across the table and he never spared me when he had something very particular to say; he made it his business to get his point across. I was always known as "Southside". I recall one occasion when he was getting under my skin. He was wearing a beautiful suit that day and was really getting at me, but I said, "You can talk, coming from the northside with your one and a half inch pinstripe suit." He roared laughing at that comment.

Tony was his own man and never a groupie or a yes-man - I used to say as much to him. That is why the former Taoiseach respected and treasured him and his advice so dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with Tony's family at this time. Noreen, her family and the wider circle of friends can take comfort in the knowledge that Tony fought a long and brave battle with a serious illness. He touched the lives of many and, undoubtedly, we are all the better for it. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.