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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 4

Death of Former Member: Expression of Sympathy.

The House will hear expressions of sympathy on the passing of the former Member and Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Mr. Seán Browne.

It was with considerable shock that Members learned of the death of Seán Browne this morning. Seán presided over this assembly as Leas-Cheann Comhairle from 1977 to 1981. He showed good humour and humanity in the exercise of that and all other offices he occupied. Most of us will remember him for his gentleness. He was not easily angered although he had deep convictions and occasionally showed a form of annoyance. He lived his life as he would have liked politics to be practised, as a profession involving conciliation and consideration for others.

Apart from being a very effective representative of the constituency of Wexford, in particular, Enniscorthy, and an advocate of its cause in all debates in which he took part, he was also a prominent member of the GAA. He served as chairman of the Wexford County Board for, I believe, a longer period than any other individual. While it is difficult to retain the confidence of the electorate in one's constituency for a long time, it is probably even more difficult to maintain the confidence of the GAA in a county chairman for as long a period as Seán Browne succeeded in doing. His success in combining an effective and active political career with such service to sport, and to young people through sport, is a tribute to the breadth and depth of his character.

He was proud of his native county. Some of us will recall that whenever the Wexford Strawberry Festival was in prospect, Seán would distribute punnets of strawberries in the House on a nonpartisan basis to induce us to consume adequate quantities of the best strawberries in the world. He was generous, proud of his county and what it was capable of producing and, because of his willingness to do something that was open to comment, humble. Members who served with Seán will remember that sense of humility and gentleness.

I extend my deep sympathy to his family and to his nephew who is a distinguished representative of the same constituency. On behalf of all Members I express deep sympathy to the Browne family and, in particular, to the Fianna Fáil Party who have lost a champion and one who represented all that is best in political life and in Fianna Fáil.

I join the Taoiseach in expressing sympathy on the death of Seán Browne. I recently visited him in hospital as his health failed. He maintained a close interest in what was happening here, mainly by listening to the radio.

He served in the Houses of the Oireachtas for 24 years as a Deputy from 1957 to 1961 and a Senator until 1969 when he returned to this House until his retirement in 1981.

As the Taoiseach correctly stated, Seán was fair but firm and well able to handle himself. When he chaired Fianna Fáil Party meetings he was also very firm. He was very good with money and new party members had to immediately sign a standing order and pay up the funds. I am afraid this practice is not as well observed now.

(Interruptions.)

It was not possible to avoid paying as Seán would follow people around the House until he had obtained their signature.

He was the Fianna Fáil assistant director of by-elections for 15 years. I was involved in only a few of those by-elections but I know from colleagues who were involved in all of them that he applied the same ground rules, he was a tremendous architect of by-elections and derived great satisfaction from them. Very much a committee person, he worked hard on committees and as chairman of the Fianna Fáil Party and Government assistant whip. Last summer he recalled some of the old practices in the House. He had a great regard for John Kelly who brought an end to the late sittings. The then Government assistant whip would have been grateful for this improvement as otherwise he would have had to keep the House in order until midnight and cope with other difficulties. Seán did not welcome difficulties and I think he preferred strawberries to some of the difficulties in the House.

He also had a love for GAA and served as chairman of the county board for 21 years. When I asked him about his best memories of that period he referred to the great Cork versus Wexford matches of the 1950s. Fianna Fáil is very proud of Seán whose nephew, Deputy John Browne, continues the tradition. On behalf of my party I extend sympathy to his family, the people he represented in Wexford and his friends in Dublin where he lived for many years. On behalf of his family, I thank the staff of Beaumont Hospital who looked after him so well in recent times.

On behalf of the Labour Parliamentary Party I extend sympathy to the family of the late Seán Browne who served this House and the Seanad with distinction. He was chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party for many years and also served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I knew him quite well and he was an effective and hard working representative of the people of Enniscorthy and Wexford. This tradition is carried on by his able nephew, Deputy John Browne. We extend sympathy to his family, nephew and Fianna Fáil Parliamentary colleagues with whom he served with distinction for many years.

On behalf of the Progress Democrats I extend sympathy to the Browne family on the death of Seán. He was first elected to Leinster House in 1957 and gave 24 years of distinguished service to the people of Wexford and the Fianna Fáil Party as a Member of the Dáil and Seanad. Although I was Deputy in 1977 I did not know him well but like the Taoiseach I remember him bringing strawberries from Wexford at the beginning of the season. He was a very gentle person and I extend my sympathy to the Fianna Fáil Party and, in particular, his nephew, John.

On behalf of Democratic Left I extend sympathy to the family of the late Seán Browne. I did not know Seán as he left the House shortly after I became a Member. However, it is clear from what has been said that he dedicated his life to his community, local and national politics and the GAA. I extend my sympathy to his family and colleagues.

Members rose.

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