Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

This is a very sad day for my party and all of us in this Chamber. We have lost a great friend and colleague in the late Deputy Brian Lenihan who was laid to rest today. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad, I extend my sincere sympathy to his wife, Patricia; his son, Tom; his daughter, Claire; his mother, Ann, and his extended family. His aunt, former Senator Mary O'Rourke, is a former Leader of this House.

Many words have been spoken in recent days about Brian Lenihan. We all considered him, first and foremost, a great friend. This transcended party politics and policies and was marked by his constituents in Dublin West when 9,000 queued on Saturday to sign a book of condolence. Such books were opened all over the country. I thank the Taoiseach and the Government for the respect they showed Brian and his family in that regard. A beautiful Mass was held today, after the removal yesterday.

For my colleagues and me, Brian was proud of his country, an Irishman to the core. Everything he did was in the interests of the country, not personal interest. He made very difficult decisions that he tried to explain to the public, with whom he connected. As a friend and colleague, he was an example to us all as parliamentarians in the respect he showed for both Houses of the Oireachtas. He spent many a long night in the Seanad and showed his respect for colleagues, of all parties and none. To the very end his only concern was for the country.