Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I am very glad to have an opportunity to pay tribute to my late colleague Nuala Fennell. I was proud and honoured to walk into this House in 1987 alongside her. At that stage she was already a political institution. During the course of the Seanad election in 1987 I met her on many occasions on what was a long and winding road. I suppose we struck up a friendship through that unusual route. During our time in politics together, both in the Dáil and Seanad, I hope we had a close bond.

I would describe her as nothing less than a magnificent person - honest, decent, kind and generous. She held strong opinions, but did so with a smile. She took every political issue seriously but she also had the ability not to take herself too seriously, and that was a marvellous attribute of hers.

She contributed very effectively, not only to the legislative positioning in the Oireachtas in this country but within the Fine Gael parliamentary party where she played a significant role. On an almost weekly basis at the parliamentary party meetings, she certainly had a great deal to say. She had the ability to inform us of her views, to present her argument coherently and calmly, but also to respect every person, not only in the parliamentary party but in the Oireachtas.

I certainly miss her. In one sense it could be said that over the course of her last few years when she suffered illness, she showed a very different side of a person who was serene, calm and accepting.

I read her autobiography which, of course, was completed by her husband. If I am paraphrasing it correctly, the last line in the book is Nuala simply saying, "Hadn't we a lovely life?" That speaks volumes of her.

She had a lovely life. Her life impacted marvellously on this country. Tens of thousands of people have benefitted from the life of Nuala Fennell. All those of us who were in some way touched by her remember her with fondness. She certainly was a political institution the likes of which we will not see too many times in this Oireachtas. May she rest in peace.