Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to join my colleague, Senator Shane Cassells, in expressing the condolences of the Fianna Fáil Party to John Bruton's wife, Finola, and family at this sad time for them. I did not have the pleasure of knowing John Bruton personally but he was someone I always genuinely admired for his integrity, directness and courage. I actually did encounter him once or twice. I was on a deputation here one time when I was a youngish councillor. I was trying to remember what the event was and I am the indebted to Senator Gavan who reminded me of John being the Minister responsible for industry and energy at one time. There was a local issue in County Kerry in which were involved. He gave us a very fair hearing and we came out of the meeting convinced that this guy wanted to do something. I do not know if he ever did but I felt he wanted to do it. He did not give us any baloney about it. We knew where we stood with him which is a quality I like in any politician.

He of course came from the Redmondite tradition and was very proud of that. When I was young, John Redmond did not enjoy great press for a long time. The Irish Parliamentary Party endeavour was rubbished to a certain extent in the excitement of the War of Independence and all that followed. However, it was a very proud and important tradition. It was the party of Parnell, John Dillon and William O'Brien, after all. Redmond was a patriot of the highest order, despite perhaps being out of touch with the majority view post 1916. I agree with John Bruton. I do not say that 1916 was wrong but we might have had a different type of evolution towards the independence we enjoy now, perhaps with less bloodshed. He was proud of that tradition that has been kept up by his Fine Gael colleagues, with whom I also sympathise. Most recently, our former Leader, Maurice Cummins, was a great admirer of John Redmond. I am sure his son John is continuing in that tradition.

One of the toughest moments John Bruton had in politics was when the elections seemed to throw up a result that was going to guarantee a Government led by Fine Gael, with Labour involved. There was a famous meeting on a Sunday evening in some hotel here in town where he met Dick Spring. He came down the steps from the meeting in the full glare of the press, knowing that his dream had been shattered. The anguish could be seen on his face. Who could then could begrudge him his time, when with the vagaries of politics being what they are, within two years he was Taoiseach, and a good one? It is overlooked that he was a very popular Taoiseach and a very good vote getter for his party. Even though they lost the following general election, if memory serves me right, Fine Gael did exceptionally well, increasing its representation by perhaps a dozen seats Of course, Labour fell apart in that election, so therefore there was a change of government.