Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

Members will have learned, with regret, of the death of Paudge Brennan, a distinguished former Member of the House. May he rest in peace. Paudge was born in Carnew in County Wicklow some 76 years ago. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in l954, regaining the seat held by his late father, Tom, from l944 until 1953.

Paudge diligently served the people of Wicklow continuously until l973. He was returned again for the constituency in June l981 and November l982. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the late Mr. Neil Blaney and Mr. Kevin Boland when they were Ministers. He held this position from l965 until l970. He was a Taoiseach's nominee to the Seanad from April to November l982 and retired from national politics in l987.

At a local level, Paudge also served the people of Wicklow well as a member of Wicklow County Council. He was a member of Wicklow County Committee of Agriculture and a distinguished member of the General Council of County Councils for many years. He took a special interest in vocational education and particularly in education in Carnew. He was also a member of the European Conference on Local Authorities from l961 until l965.

The people of Wicklow will be particularly saddened in view of the tremendous service he gave to that county throughout the years. He was instrumental in bringing Nitrogen Éireann, now known as IFI, to Arklow.

Paudge was a keen and skilled footballer. He represented his club, Carnew, with great distinction for many years. He also played for the Wicklow senior team for many years.

I remember Paudge well before and after I was elected to this House 21 years ago today. He was always helpful to me as a newcomer to the Dáil. The huge attendance at his funeral mass and at the removal of his remains showed that Paudge was still held in high regard in Carnew. The mass last Saturday was attended by the Taoiseach.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I offer our deepest condolences to his widow, Mary, his daughters, Jo, Rosemary and Sally, his sons, Tom, Sean and Barry, his brothers, Fr. Crispin OFM Cap. and Michael, and his sisters, Dolores, Sr. Immaculata and Sr. Frances. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Mr. J. Bruton

Mr. Paudge Brennan was one of the last men in Irish politics to resign from ministerial office on the basis of principle. He did not have to resign in 1970 but he took a stand and gave up ministerial office because of his beliefs. Many may not agree with those beliefs but they were sincerely held. It was the courage he showed on that occasion which probably marks him out from most of us in this House. He was an exceptional man for taking such an historic step in 1970. The last similar case which I recall related to Mr. Paddy Smith who resigned four or five years earlier in objection to wage policies being pursued at that time by Mr. Seán Lemass. It has not happened since then.

It is important to recognise that Mr. Paudge Brennan was a man of great physical and moral courage. His physical courage was displayed on the football field. He was a distinguished Wicklow footballer. It was recalled in the Seanad that Paudge Brennan played on the Wicklow team which played 11 minutes of extra time against Meath. As soon as Meath pulled a point ahead, the whistle was blown.

Mr. Roche

We were robbed.

Mr. J. Bruton

Meath does not need to resort to such tactics now.

Mr. Stagg

We will see.

Mr. J. Bruton

Perhaps Paudge Brennan's career would have been even more distinguished if Wicklow had been successful on that occasion.

As the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources said, Paudge was also a successful member of the local authority. He first stood for the Dáil in a by-election in 1953 but was defeated by the late Mr. Mark Deering who was elected for Fine Gael. Paudge was elected to the Dáil in the general election of 1954.

I spoke to one of his long serving colleagues and a former Deputy, Mr. Godfrey Timmins, in the past few hours about Paudge. He said something to me which most of us in this House will understand from our experience of going to public meetings with colleagues from different parties and perhaps being told beforehand that a colleague from a different party would say X and then finding that he had said X, Y and Z which left one at a disadvantage because there had been a change in tactic. Mr. Godfrey Timmins said that Paudge Brennan was the most honest and straightforward person he had ever known in politics. He did not qualify that by reference to any other party. He made an unqualified statement that he was a man of his word in everything he said and did. That is praise coming from somebody who shared a constituency with him for such a long period. Paudge was exceptional.

I extend my sympathy to the members of the Fianna Fáil Party and to all his friends in County Wicklow and throughout Ireland who felt a great loss at the death of Paudge Brennan. Although we were in the House together, I would not claim to have known him personally to the extent that many others did who have spoken and will speak in the future. I convey the sympathy of the Fine Gael Party to his widow and family in their irreplaceable loss.

Mr. Quinn

I offer my condolences to the Brennan family on the death of Paudge Brennan and to the Fianna Fáil Party on the loss of a former principled colleague, as Deputy John Bruton said. I want to correct the record in relation to resignations on principle. The record will show that Mr. Frank Cluskey was the last person who decided for reasons of policy to resign from a Cabinet position.

Mr. J. Bruton

That is correct.

Mr. Quinn

Notwithstanding that, the point was well made by Deputy John Bruton that it was an issue of principle held dearly by Paudge Brennan, one with which I would have disagreed at the time and with which I now disagree but times have moved on.

There is a lesson for all of us in the selfless service that Paudge Brennan has given to our society and the Republic. In these times, when the profession of politicians and politics is denigrated by many commentators and people on the periphery of politics, we must remember the work, long hours, dedication, selflessness and self-effacement that Paudge Brennan displayed. He was a self-effacing man who was typical of the type of people we have come to expect will represent the constituency of Wicklow. He had a long and productive life in political terms and he has made a contribution which will stand the test of time and will be seen by those in his party, his family, his children and his grandchildren.

On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend our condolences to his family and to the Fianna Fáil Party which has lost a trusted and loyal colleague.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Ms O'Donnell)

On behalf of the Tánaiste who cannot be here today and the Progressive Democrats, I want to be associated with the sentiments and tributes which have been paid to the late Paudge Brennan. I did not have the pleasure of knowing this gentleman but I am informed that he played an active part in political life over four decades.

He was also involved in sport. Many former Deputies were involved in Gaelic games at senior level and this is often a feature of the tributes we pay to them. I am glad Deputy Fox is continuing the tradition of involvement in Gaelic football in Wicklow. It is remarkable that so many former Deputies were active participants in Gaelic games. Such participation does not seem to happen today.

Despite suffering a defeat at the polls in 1979, former Deputy and Senator, Mr. Paudge Brennan, returned to the Dáil in 1981. I am sure his death is a great loss to his wife and six children. I offer my sympathy and that of my party to his family and Fianna Fáil colleagues.

Proinsias De Rossa

I convey my sympathy to the family and party colleagues of the late Paudge Brennan who served for a long time in public life and was elected in seven general elections. He is known in political circles and outside Wicklow as having resigned his seat as a Minister on a point of principle. As other Deputies have said the point of principle was one which they and I would have disagreed with, and would have been critical of at the time but it is noteworthy that he did so. It is not something one hears too often. Mr. Frank Cluskey did so on a point of principle but it is a rare enough thing. I am sure the family of Paudge Brennan, and Paudge himself, would like him to be remembered for the service he gave over such a long period to his constituents and the people of this country. I am certain there were many things he was responsible for achieving during that time which will never be mentioned except in his family circle or in his own party circles in Wicklow but, nevertheless, all of which helped to make the kind of society we have today.

Mr. Sargent

On behalf of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, I express my sympathy on the death of Paudge Brennan to his family, friends and former political colleagues. Having been elected in 1954 he predates my time and I admit I did not know him. I know from the times in which he lived, which are of considerable interest to people looking at this country's history, particularly in relation to Northern Ireland, that he was a major figure as parliamentary secretary to Kevin Boland in 1965. He resigned in 1970 on a point of principle in support of Kevin Boland. His outside politics activity as a county footballer will be as important as his political contribution. To many of us in politics he is to be envied for having topped the poll in all elections up to 1969 and would have to be considered a colossus in political terms on that great achievement. He would be known to subscribe to the phrase — having left Fianna Fáil along with the late Deputy Blaney and the former Deputy Boland —"we did not leave Fianna Fáil, it left us." I am not sure exactly who uttered those words first but some would say it was Paudge Brennan. Having returned to Fianna Fáil he is known to have said he wished to instil some Republican principle in the party. He can rest in peace if he has been convinced of that.

He shared my interest in education, having been chairman of the VEC. With many people in this House and outside, he shared a keen interest in the affairs of Northern Ireland. Given the evolving situation in the peace process and the Assembly elections, relations on this island have reached a stage which will allow him and many others who have gone from us to rest in peace. Ar a dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Blaney

I offer in a special way my condolences and that of the Blaney families, the people of Donegal and the constituency of Connacht-Ulster, with whom he was very much associated, on the death of a friend and colleague, Paudge Brennan. His late father served here as a Deputy for Wicklow for about ten years along with my father. He unsuccessfully contested the by-election, following his father's death, in 1953. He was elected for the first time in a general election in 1954 and was re-elected in each successive general election until 1973. He was re-elected in 1981 and 1982 and served for a further five years and retired in 1987.

Following the general election he became parliamentary secretary to my brother, Neil, as Minister for Local Government. He continued in that position until Kevin Boland became Minister for Local Government in 1966. He resigned his position following the dismissal of Charles Haughey and my late brother, Neil, during the arms trial. In 1970 he unsuccessfully contested the general election as an Independent. In 1973 he remained a faithful friend and colleague and became director of elections for Connacht-Ulster during the 1979 European elections for our organisation. He helped to secure the highest vote ever recorded for any one candidate for my late brother, Neil T. Blaney, who topped the poll with 81,500 votes. He became director of elections in Donegal North East for my own Independent Fianna Fáil organisation in the 1996 by-election. It was obvious he was not in the best of health at that time. He was unable to resume that position for the general election in 1997. Nevertheless he came to Donegal for the last two weeks of that campaign and helped in no small way to secure the seat which we, Independent Fianna Fáil, lost the previous year and which we now hold.

The friendship with the Brennan family goes back many years. Paudge was a loyal and dedicated friend in good times and not so good. He loved Irish traditions and Irish culture. He came from a Republican background and held Republican beliefs until his death. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I am grateful for the opportunity to add my voice to that of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Woods, and other party leaders in this tribute to the late Paudge Brennan. Paudge Brennan was a fine human being and a great Irishman. He served in both Houses of the Oireachtas for many years and in Government. His contribution to the lives of the people of Wicklow and his work for them is appreciated and will long be remembered. He was a county councillor and sat on many of the council's subcommittees and was very successful so far as his constituents were concerned.

As stated by Deputy Bruton he was an accomplished footballer. He wore his county jersey with great pride. He played with his native Carnew well past his sell by date as a footballer. His club, Carnew, and my old club are often said to have done their business on the field of play in a rather robust fashion. In deference to what has been said by Deputy Bruton, Paudge could take care of himself in that department also. With those two teams, those two clubs and those two communities there was never anything untoward. The attributes of honesty and manliness was always present and were part and parcel of Paudge Brennan. Indeed, those attributes resulted in a great bond of life long friendships between individuals from those two communities and a deep respect for each other on and off the field of play. As a result Paudge benefited greatly and made many friends in his sporting career which stood him well in other aspects of life, particularly in his political career.

His wife, Mary, was an integral part of everything he did. It was the greatest partnership I have ever known in politics. Obviously all our partners play a huge part in the whole process. There was something extraordinary about the relationship between Paudge and Mary. When speaking at functions in the constituency, he never failed to mention that and to highlight and portray his great appreciation of her work and the great strength she was to him. That pride which she will have in the memory of Paudge will stand her well now in this time of great grief.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil organisation in the Wicklow constituency and the people of County Wicklow, I extend deepest sympathy to Mary, her sons and daughters, and their wider family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Mr. Timmins

One of the points mentioned in each contribution is "principle". Paudge Brennan certainly was a man of principle, but he was a man who did not allow his principles to get in the way of personal friendships.

For me growing up as a child, general elections in Wicklow meant nailing posters, licking envelopes and Paudge Brennan calling for tea. I was happy to be able to call to the Brennan household for tea during the last general election. In the week before the British-Irish Agreement referendum, I was also happy to call to his house and listen to his views on the various matters of the day. He was never slow to express his views and he always stood by them. I do not know whether there would be a role for him in today's life because where shadows supersede substance, Paudge did not want to be.

He had a great love for the GAA. He won a minor championship medal with Carnew in 1938. One could almost set one's watch by him walking down Emmet St. to Croke Park on a sunny Sunday right up virtually to the time of his death. As often as he could be found in Croke Park supporting Wicklow footballers — Deputy Bruton alluded to the fact that that was not often — or Wexford hurlers, he could also be found in Aughrim on a wet winter's Sunday afternoon attending a league or club match.

He is a great loss to Carnew, Wicklow and everybody who knew him. I suppose in every locality or county when somebody dies a certain part of that locality dies for a generation — think of Christy Ring and Cloyne. In Carnew, and particularly the main street, a certain part of that area has died with the sad passing of Paudge Brennan.

Fortunately, he was able to go out until the last day or two before his death and on the Saturday week before he died I met him when President McAleese opened the Carnew community housing project.

To his family, his wife, Mary, his sons, Tom, Seán and Barry, his daughters, Jo, Rosemary and Sally, and his brothers and sisters, I extend my sincere sympathy. If it is any consolation to his family, they can rest assured that every night he laid his head to rest he slept with a clear mind.

Mr. Roche

There are many things which will always remind me of Paudge Brennan. He was a man of quite remarkable natural grace. In fact, he had a grace which set him apart among men. He had a unique way of expressing himself and understanding other people's point of view.

Paudge will always be fondly remembered because of his perpetual good humour. He could always see the funny side of life as well as seeing the serious side. Whenever he told a story, it was laced, as you know, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, with acute observations on the frailty of the human condition.

Paudge was a man of extraordinarily robust principles, as has already been referred to here. His darkest hour and, in fact, his brightest moment was in the early 1970s, a troubled period for Irish politics. Paudge had to make a choice. He was an officeholder, a junior Minister. His decisions on that occasion were informed not by the need to be in office but by the needs of principles. Paudge and his family paid a big price but he was not bitter; they were not bitter. His response was always philosophical.

Paudge was a man of great loyalty to his family, his county and his place, his political philosophy which was stoutly and proudly republican, and, above all, to this country. Paudge loved this country. He loved all 32 counties. He loved the people and their cultural diversity. He was delighted, for example, that the present bi-centenary celebrations for 1798 celebrated the diversity of the rebellion, recognising the part played by protestant and dissenter as well as by catholic. Paudge Brennan's republicanism recognised that that philosophy demanded an understanding of the diversity of this nation, and a respect and joy in its diverse traditions.

In these times when politics and politicians are universally questioned and are sometimes the subject of understandable cynicism, we can hold Paudge Brennan up as a bright symbol of unquestionable integrity to which politics must and should aspire and be returned. Politics for Paudge was never about self-serving, but about serving the people and, above all, the nation. I know that the recent revelations caused him much pain. He simply could not understand how anybody who had been honoured by public office could besmirch public office by betraying the public's trust. That was something which was quite alien to him.

There was another side to Paudge which I grew to know, love and cherish over the years, and that was the family man. Paudge has left behind a quite remarkable family: Mary, his wife and lifelong companion, and his six children, Tom, Seán, Barry, Jo, Rosemary and Sally, their husbands and wives, and the grandchildren. They dealt with Paudge's illness and with his parting with the greatest dignity. Their pain will, I have no doubt, be soothed by the knowledge that he had and still holds the respect and regard not only of the people of County Wicklow but also the people who represent the nation.

In Carnew church at the end of Paudge's funeral Mass, Barry Brennan described his father as a class act. That he was and will be very hard to follow.

Ms McManus

I extend my sympathy and the sympathy of Democratic Left in County Wicklow to the family of Paudge Brennan. He was, as has been said, a man of great principle and strong convictions. His integrity was recognised by those who did not necessarily share those convictions but could see the integrity in the man. He was also courageous and he fought his last illness with great courage.

I record my thanks and my debt to him for his kindness, the small remembered acts of kindness which unfortunately seem to be less prevalent in politics nowadays. He was very much a man of old style courtesy. As a newcomer starting out on the slippery slope which leads to this House, I was grateful that Paudge always had time to talk to somebody like me. It did not matter to him to whom he was talking, from where the person came, or whether the person was important in political terms. He was always willing to talk and he extended a warmth and kindness which will certainly stay with me.

The great crowd which turned out in Carnew to go with him on his last journey was an indication of the range of his friends. There were so many of all political persuasions and none, who came out of regard, respect and love.

My deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Mary, — local people often call her Mary Paudge — his sons and daughters, and his brothers and sisters. He is a great loss to County Wicklow.

Miss Fox

I want to be associated with the tributes being paid to Paudge Brennan. Our paths first crossed in 1982 when he and my father shared the Fianna Fáil ticket for the general election. Even though that might not be the best start in the world to any friendship, they remained firm friends until my father died in 1995.

Paudge and his wife, Mary, were very kind to me during both my by-election and general election campaigns. They invited all my supporters in for tea and they would actually get annoyed with me if they heard I was in Carnew and failed to drop in on them.

Paudge was a well respected man in County Wicklow, especially around Carnew. That was evident by the tributes which were paid to him on the night. Paudge had strong beliefs and he stood up for them, even if that meant going it alone. He must be respected for that. I extend my sympathy to Mary and his family on behalf of my supporters in County Wicklow.

Members rose in their places.