Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Government for affording us the opportunity to express our sympathies on the passing of Brian Lenihan. His death was met with great sadness, not only within the Fianna Fáil party but throughout the political spectrum and the island, not only in this State. I extend my sympathies on behalf of the Sinn Féin party to Brian's wife, Patricia, his son, Tom, his daughter, Clare, his extended family and his Fianna Fáil colleagues here today who knew Brian personally and who worked on a day-to-day basis with him.

I knew Brian in my previous capacity as a policy adviser for Sinn Féin. Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke of how when they worked on a day-to-day basis with him it was easy to forget his illness. I am aware personally that he did not let his illness take over his life and that he worked in a Trojan capacity and with great dignity on all the issues facing the Department of Finance. When I first started my job as a policy adviser and a parliamentary assistant, going into the Department of Finance and meeting the Minister was a big deal. However, I was met with nothing but respect and friendliness. Brian Lenihan was a true gentleman and treated us all with respect. He brought us in and told us how it was but there was no animosity. It was genuine friendliness and it saddened me on Friday to learn of his passing. I was with Senator Wilson at the time and I had to reflect personally, remember him and recall how he treated me and my colleagues in the Department of Finance. I extend my sympathies to his family, friends and everyone who knew him personally. May he rest in peace.