Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an comhbhrón do chlainne Tony Kett. I feel proud but sad to be able to pay tribute to Tony. He was, as has been said by many Members, a friend and colleague over a long number of years. I first got to know him in 1997 when we were both elected to the House and I got to work closely with him. I was chairman of the Local Authority Members Association at the time and it did not have a representative of Dublin City Council. I recall shortly after we entered the House suggesting to Tony that he might consider securing the nomination from the council, which he did. I have happy memories of that time because when venues coincided with both our routes, we travelled together to meetings and I learned a great deal about politics and, in particular, Fianna Fáil politics in the inner city, the manner in which they operated, his close friendship with Deputy Bertie Ahern, the then Taoiseach, and his loyalty and other good attributes. We spoke about colleagues, councillors and all the subjects politicians cover when they get together.

However, one time that stands out is when we were promoting a strong relationship with councillors in Northern Ireland. We arranged conferences together and late at night when the more sensible councillors had gone to bed, a sing song would commence among those who remained. Those who knew him will be aware Tony was a beautiful ballad singer and he loved Jimmy McCarthy's songs. They will also know the entertainment value of his singing. A number of our northern counterparts were fine singers, particularly those from the Unionist tradition, and it was great to see Tony start up to represent us. We felt proud when he started with the lines: "I took the train to Belfast to see my friend McRory" or sang the Bright Blue Rose, which the former Taoiseach mentioned at his funeral. It resonated with the words he quoted that day.

I have many other memories. Some Members will recall our Christmas parties where, with the backing of Senator Glynn and Deputy Micheál Kitt on guitar, we would go until such time as the ushers ejected us from the House and there was none better to join in the entertainment and to extract real joy out of it than Tony. On another occasion, I travelled to Newcastle with my family and friends to see Manchester United play Newcastle United. I had forgotten Tony was a Spurs fan, which Senator Fitzgerald alluded to, because I was such a dyed in the wool United fan and because he travelled so much with Deputy Bertie Ahern to Old Trafford. I had overlooked this until the funeral when the Deputy reminded us of that fact. As the airplane was about to land, we were in conversation when we suddenly realised it was climbing again. That stopped our conversation. Tony and Deputy Ahern were towards the front of the plane and we were at the back. I asked an air hostess what was the problem after the captain had said he was not lined up properly and he would make another attempt to land. To my consternation, she replied that they had a trainee pilot and she was not lined up properly for the landing. I passed a comment about women drivers. I thought I would never get back and I said to Tony that I thought travelling with the Taoiseach would have secured our safety. He was able to trump me by saying that on the trip to Newcastle he had not only met Brendan Foster, the great Olympian runner from Gateshead, but together with the former Taoiseach, he had also had a good conversation with Alex Ferguson, which made me envious of the fact that I had not been in their company.

Nothing defines us more than how we deal with adversity. When Tony fell ill, and before he was diagnosed with a serious illness, we often talked in his office with Senator Ormonde and others. Previous speakers mentioned the manner in which he coped and the great courage and dignity with which he bore and dealt with his illness. It was an example to us all. I offered words of encouragement to him on a number of occasions, as did many others, and I told him how important it was to keep positive but he sometimes turned to me and said, "I have my moments". That is the human side of all of us.

We will miss Tony for his contributions, integrity and the example he showed. Following the 2002 election, I went on holidays and when I returned the Taoiseach had met the Fianna Fáil Seanad group. I inquired of Tony what positions we might be getting and he replied that the Taoiseach seemed to have all the positions under control bar one. There was nobody in the group with justice or legal qualifications and he said I might be good at that. I said that would be too onerous and complex for me but, to my surprise, I got the call and I was given the portfolio. I went back to Tony thinking he probably had a part to play in it but he completely disarmed me when he said he was sharing the portfolio. He took responsibility for equality and the disability sector, in which he was keenly interested.

He was so proud of his family. I always felt I knew Noreen before I ever met her and I am aware of the pride he took in Jason, Jennifer and Joanne and their sporting achievements, and how delighted he was with the arrival of his grandchild. They can also be proud of him not just for the public figure and politician he was but for the man he was. He was exemplary in many ways and that is typified by the generous and genuine comments by other Members. As one generation passes, another arrives and it was great that Tony lived to see his granddaughter. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.