Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to contribute. It is a measure of the man to whom we pay tribute and in respect of whom we offer our respects that so many colleagues are offering words of sympathy. In my seven years in the House I have never heard so many paying tribute to someone who has died.

A previous speaker stated Tony Kett was a friend. I was honoured to call him a friend. On the day four of us travelled to the Kett home to visit Noreen and the family, she greeted each of us by name. This was despite the fact that she had never met us before. She informed us that he had never stopped talking about us. On the return car journey someone said, "Jesus, wasn't Kett a right one?" One would never think he was your pal but obviously he was because Noreen knew everything about the four of us who travelled out to see her.

Other speakers referred to Tony visiting their offices. As Senator Kieran Phelan stated, our office is located one away from that which Tony occupied. He never passed by without either knocking or kicking on the door and coming in. He would look around and say, "I have a right one to tell you today". It was always a very clean joke that one could repeat to others. I recall the laughter that used to emanate from the office when he came in and told a joke. What I remember most about his visits to our office is that he was always great for providing advice on how your pension would benefit you. I recall thinking when he died that it was so sad that while he knew so much about figures, pensions and voluntary contributions, he never had the opportunity to enjoy his own pension.

It is a lovely tribute to Tony that details relating to his funeral service are pinned on the noticeboards of every office on our floor. As a result, there is not a day that goes by when one does not have occasion to think about him. That is another indication of what Tony meant to every one of us.

I smile when I hear people refer to parties. We have had some great parties in Senator Walsh's office but we have not had one in some time. I must inform Senator O'Brien that there was never any room for dancing. However, we were often treated to a rendition of Mary Black's "Bright Blue Rose". Even then, Tony was modest about his ability to perform a song.

When I first ran for election in 2002, I met Tony and former Senator Chris Wall at the council offices in Longford. Like me, Tony was anxious to meet the councillors and then travel on to his next appointment. I arrived perhaps 30 seconds before him. Chris Wall told him to go in first but being the gentleman he was, Tony allowed me to go in ahead of him. He rang me that night to inform me that I had done well. I asked him how he knew that and he stated those present had spoken about me when I had left. As it happened, he was right because I happened to be elected on that occasion.

I always found Tony to be a very modest and caring man. He will be remembered fondly and for a long time in this Chamber. He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace.