Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 1995

Vol. 457 No. 7

Death of Member. - Expression of Sympathy.

Mr. B. Ahern:

I thank the Tánaiste for allowing me to lead in the tributes to the late Deputy Brian Lenihan.

All of us in this House deeply mourn the passing of Deputy Brian Lenihan, one of the outstanding public figures of the last four decades. Many deserved tributes have been paid to him from all sides of the House during the past week. I am sure the House will forgive me for paying a slightly extended tribute to him which he deserves.

Deputy Lenihan was a respected voice in the Government Council Chamber, in the House and the party rooms. His legal training and his wide reading were great assets. He became at length an elder statesman, the last member of the House apart from Deputy Blaney to have served in the great reforming administration of Seán Lemass. Brian Lenihan went on to serve under Jack Lynch and Charles Haughey, in no less than seven Departments. He had a career of great public achievement. Modern Ireland owes him a great deal. He was both a liberal and a democratic republican in the best sense of those words.

One of his achievements was the reform, at one sitting, of the literary censorship laws which had resulted in the banning of great works of 20th century literature, both Irish and foreign. Works by writers like Seán O Faoláin and Kate O'Brien had been banned. He changed the law, which was damaging to the country's reputation and which limited its vision, in a way that caused relatively little controversy at the time and which did not need to be revisited several times afterwards as has been the fate of some other liberalising legislation. He also finalised the enactment of the Succession Act, a milestone with regard to women's inheritance rights and equality.

As Donogh O'Malley's successor in education, he carried through the scheme for free secondary education, perhaps the single most important modernising measure of the 1960s, with hugely beneficial social repercussions. The free transport scheme went with it. He also oversaw the planning of the two NIHEs, which were transformed in his sister's time as Minister for Education into the University of Limerick and Dublin City University, and the inception of the regional technical colleges, two measures which represented a departure from the more traditional academic education provided by universities.

Brian Lenihan was well known and respected internationally. He put visitors instantly at ease and he was always extremely knowledgeable and conversant on international affairs. He was very well known and popular in American political circles. He met several Presidents, knew many of the important officials on Capitol Hill and was a close friend of Senator Ted Kennedy and others of the four horsemen. He was three times Minister for Foreign Affairs, briefly in 1973, from 1979-81 and from 1987 to 1989. During his period in the Seanad he was also a member of the European Parliament and was one of the architects of the enduring political alliance between Fianna Fáil and the Gaullists. He had been deeply interested in European affairs from the beginning of his political career. He also served in the Council of Europe.

In 1977 it fell to him to complete negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy. While it may be said that in the entry negotiations prior to 1973, with Britain and Ireland missing some opportunities and not giving fisheries the prominence it deserved, nevertheless the EU fisheries regime has enabled the Irish fishing industry to grow, to modernise and to prosper.

Brian Lenihan between 1979 and 1981 was a Foreign Minister in the best traditions of Ireland's independent foreign policy as established by Eamon de Valera and Frank Aiken. He expressed a clear Government view on apartheid and sport. Above all in the Bahrain Declaration of 10 February 1980 he gave a lead to the European Community, even ahead of France. In it he recognised the role of the PLO in representing the Palestinian people, recognised their right to self-determination, and to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. This was a prelude to the Venice Declaration of the EU Heads of Government in June 1980. Despite considerable political criticism at home over what was at that time politically very unorthodox, we have today a Palestinian State, as part of a Middle East peace settlement which Prime Minister Rabin has died trying to defend.

Brian Lenihan also participated with the then Taoiseach Charles Haughey in creating the Anglo-Irish Inter-governmental Conference. He was a warm admirer of Lord Carrington, in whom much faith was placed as a source of political progress on Northern Ireland.

In 1982, Brian Lenihan became Minister for Agriculture. He soon confounded the mockers, by bringing home an exceptionally good farm price deal. Whether negotiating with the Soviets or our EU partners, Brian Lenihan had the ability to stay wide awake later than most, and others tended to succumb before he did.

In Opposition during the 1980s, Brian Lenihan was a valued member of the New Ireland Forum, where the breadth of his knowledge could be used to good effect. He had an ability to bridge the two traditions, and he had a breadth of understanding and tolerance for both. Individuals and deputations from a Unionist background who might approach him initially with hostile pre-conceptions soon found themselves disarmed by his genuine charm, sincerity and deep understanding, and his obvious desire for peace and reconciliation. He was always totally for the civilised settlement of differences, and he strongly supported social partnership and consensus.

While Minister for Foreign Affairs in March 1987, under Charles Haughey's great Fianna Fáil minority administration, he co-chaired the Inter-governmental Conference with the Northern Secretary Tom King, with whom he developed a good and constructive relationship. One of the most important things achieved during that time was the passage of fundamental reform of fair employment legislation. Progress was also made towards the establishment of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body.

In 1989, after overcoming serious illness with great fortitude, he became Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, and he sorted out what had been a bitter dispute over pay in the Defence Forces with his customary skill and powers of conciliation.

He stood for the Presidency, and received the highest number of votes on the first round. He was magnanimous in defeat and was always ready to praise the President. He Continued to serve his country in the Dáil to the best of his ability, and became Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Behind the scenes, he played a significant role in the peace process, being the source of certain contacts both loyalist and republican from which he conveyed information to the then Taoiseach, Deputy Albert Reynolds. He was also in close touch with an important German figure in close contact with the German Government, who organised the Duisburg Talks and later helped broker an unpublicised permanent IRA ceasefire on the continent, over a year before the general IRA ceasefire. Earlier this year, as an active member of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation Brian Lenihan was the first to promote publicly in dialogue with Protestant pastors the restoration of 50 per cent remission to prisoners as a first step, a measure that has since been adopted by the British Government.

Brian Lenihan came from a great political family. His father, who served for a long time in local politics, entered the Dáil after him. He was also joined in 1982 by his sister, our much valued Deputy leader Mary O'Rourke. Indeed, it was the first time a brother and sister served in Cabinet together.

Brian Lenihan, as everyone knows, was excellent company. He could be witty and irreverent. He could be passionate in his political speeches, and indeed when occasion demanded he was able to develop confusion to a very fine art. However, as those who worked with him will know, he put his critical faculties to the service of his country, and his opinions and judgments were very much in demand and respected in this House. His influence always weighed on the side of tolerance and civilised standards. He had little time for reactionary or fundamentalist attitudes. He was part of the new Ireland, not the old. Modern Ireland, whether it fully realises it or not, owes him a considerable debt.

I extend to his wife Ann, his childern Brian, Conor, Niall, Paul and Anita, his sister Mary and to Paddy and Ann our deepest condolences. His presence and contribution to public life will be both greatly missed and long remembered.

Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh anam fíor uasal Bhriain. Go raibh a sprid linn i gcónaí.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring):

I wish to add my words to those of the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Ahern. All of us in the House knew and, indeed, loved Brian Lenihan. Long before I became a Member he was a towering figure who served in many of the great offices of State and adorned them all with wit, work and style. He was one of that unique generation of Irish politicians who came into politics at a time of profound economic and social change and for more than 30 years he was a leading contributor to the development of modern Ireland.

Brian's unique political philosophy, based on a set of rooted values combined with a pragmatic style was offset by a personality that was at once forthcoming and reticent. One of the things that has been widely referred to in the last number of days in the many tributes paid to him was his deep and wide learning. Yet he seemed, often, to take pleasure in concealing that erudition behind a hearty exterior. I had many clashes with him during his political career, but not one of them was ever rancorous or bitter — he simply was not that kind of man. Fiercely loyal to his party, he could, nevertheless, be disarmingly honest about mistakes. A man with the ability to rise to the very top, he was content to play a supporting role in every situation, no matter how harshly some of those situations may have affected him.

I know from my own experience that he took a deep and abiding interest in the prospects for peace in Ireland and was prepared to take personal risks to facilitate these prospects. His last few years probably provided all of us with an enduring precedent of one man's courage and spirit. Even today I find it hard to believe that Brian's indomitable spirit has given up the fight. I will remember as every Member will that he applied his "no problem" philosophy not just to politics but to the pain of serious illness. His loss has left a gap on the benches of Dáil Eireann that will be very hard to fill. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government and the Labour Party I extend our deep sympathy to Ann Lenihan, their childern, and to our colleague Deputy Mary O'Rourke who will be feeling a special depth of sadness — and pride also — on this occasion. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Shortly after 3 p.m. last Wednesday Members heard with great regret of the death of one of our most popular colleagues. Brian Lenihan. Even though we knew he had been ill for some time there was still a palpable sense of loss on his passing. All our thoughts and prayers go to his wife. Ann, his sons Conor, Niall, Brian and Paul and his daughter, Anita, his sister Deputy Mary O'Rourker— who served with him as a Member of this House and in Government — and to his other sister Ann and his brother, Paddy.

Brian Lenihan was well versed in public affairs both at national and international level. He was also a man of great courtesy. His qualities of integrity, sincerity and good humour earned him the affection and respect not only of Members of the House but of people throughout Ireland and those who came in contact with him on the international scene.

Brian was dedicated to his party, his constituents and his country. He was unique in that he did not have enemies, political or otherwise. He was a classic example of somebody who could walk with kings while retaining the common touch. Everyone Brian met subsequently regarded himself or herself as a friend of his. He displayed great courage during his political life and was not afraid to speak out or to take risks. This courage was even more obvious in his battle with serious illness.

We all recall him so successfully contesting the 1989 General Election from his hospital bed in the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The reception by his colleagues on all sides on his return to this House was testimony to the very high regard in which Brian was held. When his party called on him a year later to be its candidate in the Presidential election, Brian, in his customary and unselfish fashion, placed himself before the electorate.

Brian Lenihan held many ministerial portfolios over 30 years — Justice, Education, Transport and Power, Foreign Affairs, Fisheries and Forestry, Agriculture, Defence and as Tánaiste he brought his undoubted talents to the service of the country. He was also Parliamentary Secretary on two occasions. In addition he was Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party in the Seanad, chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and joint chairman of the Anglo Irish Intergovernmental Conference. As an MEP he served as Fianna Fáil Leader in Strasbourg. He was a member of the New Ireland Forum and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and he served also in local government both as a member of the Roscommon and Dublin County Councils. That is quite a catalogue of achievements and record of service. Between national and local politics he served his people for almost 40 years in public life. He had many interests outside politics, notably, football. He was a skilled player in his day and retained his interest in the game throughout his life. He was also an avid reader and many young people came to know him in later life as a book reviewer where he always indulged in incisive and honest comments.

Brian Lenihan had an abiding interest in North-South reconciliation and he played a large part in influencing the current peace process. His stature among Nationalists and Unionists was immense as was shown by the affection of those he met from both sides. As Minister for Foreign Affairs he had a special interest in the peace process in the Middle East. On behalf of the Taoiseach, the Fine Gael Party and on my own behalf I ask you, a Cheann Comhairle, to offer our deepest condolences to Brian's wife, Ann, his family, his colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party, particularly his sister, Mary O'Rourke, and his legion of friends. He will be sadly missed in this House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.

Miss Harney:

I, too, join the Tánaiste, the Leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Ahern, and Minister Noonan in extending my sympathy and that of the Progressive Democrats to Brian Lenihan's wife, Ann, to his children and particularly to our colleague, his sister Mary O'Rourke, and his brother Paddy. Although we were aware of Brian Lenihan's serious illness, we were all genuinely shocked when we heard of his death. It was hard to imagine that he would not be with us any longer.

Brian Lenihan was in many ways a paradox. He was deeply intelligent, very well read and steeped in learning and knowledge. He was an outstanding orator, if often a bombastic one. We all have our own "Lenihanisms". On Sunday I heard Olivia O'Leary refer to Brian's reference to the fact that you had to be negative to be positive. I remember a debate on foreign policy during which Brian argued that we were neutral. It was put to him by the inter-viewer that Ireland was not really neutral but pro-western. He said: "Yes, of course, ideologically we are western but militarily we are neutral". Only somebody like Brian Lenihan could have the skill to come up with an answer like that.

Brian was a man of enormous experience and achievement. That achievement took him through seven different ministries over 17 years — he was 38 years in this House — but despite that achievement he was never pompous or overbearing. He never had the puffed up gravitas that often comes with assuming high office. He was an ordinary, decent man.

Following the presidential election I was not looking forward to our first meeting but the sense of decency in the man made that encounter very easy for me, and indeed very pleasant. Brian Lenihan did not have a bad bone in his body. I never heard him speak ill of anybody. He had a great zest for life. Erich Fromm, the famous German psychoanalyst, once said, "To die is poignantly difficult but to live without dying is unbearable". Brian Lenihan certainly lived. He had a zest for life. He had a camaraderie that was unusual, he had a great sense of fun and good humour.

Brian was a true Fianna Fáil person but, despite that fact, he gained his sporting fame by playing the reviled foreign game which no true Gael was supposed to do; they were supposed to shun it. That does not surprise me because I always found Brian Lenihan to be progressive and forward looking. He was part of the Lemass generation that sought to turn Ireland around from an insular, inward looking country to one which was progressive, outward looking and able to take it place among the other nations of the world.

On social issues I always found Brian Lenihan to be extremely realistic and progressive. On some of the sensitive social issues we have had to discuss in recent years I found him to be a man who had deeply thought out his position and was not afraid to give leadership on those issues. He had the qualities to be leader of his party but he always settled for being the supporting act and, on many occasions, had to compromise his own abilities for so doing.

Brian was a proud practitioner of our profession. He was a great honour to the profession which he loved dearly. We will all miss him. Ireland will be the poorer for his passing and Fianna Fáil, in particular, have lost a loyal and dedicated member. The words that are apt are those from Shakespeare's As You like It because they describe the Brian Lenihan I knew. Shakespeare said: “Thou art not for the fashion of these times where none will sweat but for promotion”. Brian Lenihan certainly sweated, but not for promotion. He sweated in the cause of his party, his country and others.

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa):

I want to join other party colleagues in this House in paying the warmest possible tribute to the memory of Brian Lenihan, one of the best loved and most respected figures, not only in this House but in Irish politics. I said last week, and I want to repeat it now, that Brian Lenihan was a rare figure in Irish politics, a man who was as highly regarded by his opponents as by his own party colleagues. His death will be deeply felt, not only by his party colleagues and indeed by his family, but by all of us in this House and anyone who has ever had occasion to do business with him.

The courage and determination with which Brian fought his illness, and the manner in which he fought back time and again against all the odds, was characteristic of his whole approach to life. He was a man who truly loved life and was determined, despite his illness, to live to the maximum degree possible. He was a man who, more than most, experienced the ups and downs of politics and it must be said that the enjoyed the good times and endured the bad in the same irrepressible way. He had some bruising political experiences which, in a lesser person, might have led to disillusionment or even bitterness but Brian Lenihan was a man without rancour and spite.

In almost 35 years in the Oireachtas he made an enduring contribution to Irish public life. He was a shrewd political tactican with a razor sharp mind and he will be particularly remembered as a reforming Minister for Justice, as the leader of the Opposition, Deputy Ahern, has already indicated. He was a progressive Minister for Education and an outward looking and innovative Minister for Foreign Affairs. He will be remembered for the passion he felt for politics, and particularly for Fianna Fáil. He will be remembered also for his fiery contributions to debates inside and outside the Dáil and for his many unforgettable sayings.

The leader of the Opposition, Deputy Ahern, is correct when he says that Brian Lenihan was of the modern Ireland not of the old Ireland. It will be some time before we fully appreciate the contribution he made to politics and to Irish life. To his wife, Ann, his family and colleagues in Fianna Fáil I extend my deepest condolences on behalf of Democratic Left.

Mr. Reynolds:

Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an run comhbhróin ar bhás Bhriain Uí Luineachain, mo chara agus iar-Thánaiste.

I join other speakers in offering my personal condolences to the wife and family of Brian Lenihan and indeed to the extended family. With the passing of Brian last week, after more than 40 years of service to the nation, this House lost a skilful and spirited contributor. Brian was a man with a keen, analytical, political brain who spent his whole life working for the advancement of everybody. His was a distinguished contribution to overall national social and economic development. He distinguished himself in many ministries and various committees, at home and abroad, and was able to bring his experience to bear in every Cabinet in which he served, and I had the privilege of serving with him in some of those.

To his party Brian gave it all. He sacrificed himself on every occasion he was asked to come to the rescue of the party, to steer it through difficult times or indeed to promote the cause at times of extreme difficulty which only Brian, bringing all his talent to bear on a particular debate, could do. He was one of the most pragmatic, practical practitioners of politics which he always defined as the art of the possible. As a person his qualities were distinctive. He was kind and generous and he always had the knack of being able to make people feel special.

Brian spent his whole life in service to his party and his country but, above all, to his colleagues. He gave his utmost loyalty to every Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil with which he served, including myself. However, the issue nearest and dearest to his heart was Northern Ireland and the desire to find a solution to the problems there. I had the pleasure of working with him and many others both behind the scenes and in public in this respect. He gave us the benefit of his experience and of the many discussions he had not only with Nationalist leaders in Northern Ireland but also with Unionist leaders—he enjoyed the confidence of both sides.

Many people have memories of Brian and I am no exception. Many of those memories were exchanged last Thursday and Friday. Brian enjoyed the big crowd, and he loved to raise their spirits. His funeral was attended by his colleagues from all political parties. As someone said, he did not have a bad bone in his body. I have always said that if Brian Lenihan could not do one a good turn he certainly would not do one a bad turn.

Brian's death brought to an end a phenomenon in politics, a man with unique qualities who made such a tremendous contribution to national advancement and who spoke with passion and conviction about the onward march of the Irish nation. Like me Brian started his political career in Longford-Westmeath where he tried to gain a seat. He was a sweeper then and he was always prepared to be one throughout his political life. He later moved to Roscommon from where he managed to raise himself to the very top in national politics. He was so well known on the international stage that those of us who had the opportunity to go abroad picked up traces of his legacy in the United States, the Far East and elsewhere. He was always magnanimous in victory and never rancorous in defeat. He never looked back at what might have been and always looked forward, recognising that he might have some influence on what would happen tomorrow but could have no influence on what had gone by.

I offer my condolences to his wife Ann, his sons Brian, Conor, Paul and Niall, his daughter Anita, his sisters Mary and Ann and brother Paddy. He left a legacy of which all of us and his family can be justly proud. His life was a journey for justice and a search for peace.

I was glad to receive a message from him on one occasion when he was in hospital in which he expressed his desire to serve on the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, to which he devoted much of his time and energy during his latter days. His tremendous capacity to overcome adversity and his fight against the odds over the past five-six years is an inspiration to all of us in terms of what can be achieved in political life when one has political courage and is inspired by a "never say die" attitude. We have lost a good friend, a man who was loyal to all of us and, in particular, to the Fianna Fáil Party. As we said last Friday, "Farewell Brian, you did a great job and the good will live after you".

An Ceann Comhairle:

It is with a sense of personal sadness, tinged with much pride, that I call on Deputy Mary O'Rourke.

Mrs. O'Rourke:

I would not do justice to the situation if I did not express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the party leaders, their representatives and all those who have spoken about Brian in such warm and generous terms. I thank the Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas — I will not have an opportunity to speak in the Seanad — who attended the funeral and expressed their genuine sympathy to all of us.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle who in his role of master of the House and the staff visited the Mater Hospital. We were very honoured by this expresssion of your role in the House where Brian spent so many years.

Over the weekend his family and friends talked about past events and times. While this led to much sadness it also created much warmth. We also read the articles in the newspapers and listened to the reports on the television. I thank RTE and the media commentators for their generosity in terms of their expressions and their sensitive treatment of the matter since the beginning of his illness. I could not help but think that Brian would have had a wry chuckle or raised an eyebrow at some of the comments which were made. Given his generous and warm spirit, he would have looked on these with a gentle irony and nothing else.

On behalf of Ann, Brian, Conor, Paul, Niall and Anita, the members of my family and the extended family I wish to extend my thanks to all those who have spoken here today and those who have written to me and other members of the family. Everyone meant what they said and did and this has made a great difference to how I have been able to deal with his passing.

Members rose in their places.