Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

This is my first term in the Seanad but I knew Tony Kett for many years. I had the pleasure of voting for him regularly on his panel when I was a county councillor. He enjoyed tremendous support from the councillors of Kerry, partly because of his association with Bertie Ahern but also because of his great personality. People used to say he was a sure bet for the Seanad because of his friendship with Bertie Ahern. That may have got him off the ground initially, so to speak, but I assure everyone that he was extremely popular with rural councillors throughout the country. As Senator Ormonde said, he had a way about him at conferences because all Senators, and I do it myself now, try to work the room when we meet a group of councillors. Tony never worked the room. He was just himself. He had his drink and his sing-song and everybody seemed to gravitate towards him. That is the type of man he was.

To Tony's wife and family and all his colleagues from Drumcondra including Deputy Cyprian Brady, former Senator Wall and all the other famous names that have become the stuff of legend, I offer my deepest sympathy. I know Tony was an integral part of a political organisation that has become the stuff of legend. Bertie Ahern went out of his way to pay tribute to his organisation, of which Tony was a key part, on the night he launched his book. I have read that book from cover to cover. Tony will be remembered for what he did but he will always be associated with Bertie Ahern and for the contribution he made, along with his colleagues who are present, to the formation and presentation of Bertie Ahern who was probably the most able and brilliant politician of my generation. Tony Kett deserves special thanks for that.

Like Deputy Kieran Phelan I sat beside Tony for voting purposes and his strength and humour in his final illness was wondrous to behold. He always had a joke and a smile, but he promised me something on which he did not deliver. He always said he would take me on a pub crawl in Drumcondra some weekend and visit all those famous places. I was looking forward to that but, unfortunately, his illness overcame him. On the week Tony died I went on a personal odyssey and visited all those pubs and everybody I met - publicans, customers and the fellow who had the menswear shop in Drumcondra - had nothing but the most wonderful things to say about Tony Kett. I am glad to be here to be part of these tributes. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.