Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I too am glad to have the opportunity to join in the tributes to our former colleague, the late Senator Brian Friel. Mention has been made of his reflection about making the end less frightening. It is an appropriate reflection for the Houses of the Oireachtas over the next two or three weeks for many, or all, of us to try to make the end less frightening, if it is to be an end.

I was fortunate to serve with the late Senator in that period 1987 to 1989. It is a long time ago but we have nothing but the fondest memories of that Seanad. It was an eclectic Seanad for me, to put it mildly, as I was a political novice just out of short pants. To walk into the House and sit alongside figures such as Brian Friel, Éamon de Buitléir - who was another very interesting Independent appointment by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey - John Robb from Northern Ireland and John Magnier of Coolmore Stud fame was something I was in awe of, although on reflection, I treasure it greatly.

The work, worth and fame of Brian Friel stretches much beyond this House and, clearly, he is known not for his political interventions but for his life of creativity. From the perspective of a man of such creativity, one of the disappointing aspects of his membership of the Seanad was that the Seanad building in which we sit, the finest room of Leinster House, was under repair and reconstruction in that period 1987 to 1989, so it was not in this hallowed spot and on these well-cushioned leather seats that we sat but rather in the ante room, where we sat on chairs and benches like little schoolboys in a room. Notwithstanding that, each Member, including Brian Friel, played their part in that Seanad.

Senator Norris has posed the question of whether he contributed much by way of debate to the Seanad. Most of us who entered the Seanad on that occasion were in awe of the building and of politics but any moments of silence were filled by the said Senator Norris, so there was very little time for the novice Senators to make their speeches. Brian Friel was a mannerly, friendly colleague of those on all sides in the House. If we recall, it was a time when the politics of this Republic and this island was very fraught with the divisions in Northern Ireland. On an almost daily basis, certainly a weekly basis, we were speaking of death and division, bombing, murder and killing. That was the big political backdrop at the time. People such as Brian Friel and other colleagues like him, by their presence here and their gentle chats, not always within but also outside the Chamber and in the more social parts of the building, forced us all to try to look in a broader fashion at the conflict on the island and forced us all to try to accept that change, compromise and movement would be required. Therefore, the Senator did play a constructive political role in that regard. Different voices from the normal Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour Party voices, which we were traditionally more used to, were very helpful in making us look at some of the big problems in a new light.

I have very pleasant memories of Senator Brian Friel. While his fame is much greater than his political career, he certainly leaves a legacy in this House and way beyond it.