Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I also wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Brian Lenihan, having known him for the number of years he came into the House. He was probably the best attendee as a Minister in this House. He came into the House with every Bill he brought through. I was always struck by his good humour and his use of the language. He was never in bad humour, always good humour. He had great respect for the House and one thing he would have wished for this House was for it to continue. He always elaborated in the House on the Seanad and how it was an important part of our institutions.

I wish to be associated with the vote of sympathy to his wife, Patricia, his daughter, Clare, and his son, Tom, to his extended family, including Mary O'Rourke, a Leader of the House for several years, and to Conor, a Member of the Dáil, who used to come into the House as a Minister of State. Brian is a great loss not only to the Fianna Fáil party, but to the nation. Whatever brief he was responsible for, he was always on top of it. Whether he knew what he was talking about, one always believed he knew exactly what he was talking about. He had a great use of the language. As Senator Mullen said of his use of words, we always seemed to understand the words he used at particular times. It was a joy to listen to him in the House and to take advice from him.

I was also struck by the fact that he seemed to know everyone by their first name, an unusual thing in the Oireachtas in which there are 220 Members. In particular, Ministers do not appear to know Senators, something I have come across on numerous occasions. However, Brian Lenihan knew everyone by their first name and it is a great tribute to him that he did. I wish to be associated with the expression of sympathy to his wife, Patricia, and the family.