Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Nov 1995

Vol. 145 No. 1

Death of Deputy Brian Lenihan: Expression of Sympathy.

An Cathaoirleach

It is with deep regret that I learned of the passing of Deputy Brian Lenihan today. A native of Athlone, I have known Brian all my life. He was a committed politician. During his political career, Brian served with distinction in the office of Tánaiste, as a member of several Governments, as Parliamentary Secretary, Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and as a Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. His ability and versatility are evident by his expertise in the number of portfolios he held.

Brian started his career in the Oireachtas when he was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1957 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. In October 1961 he was elected to the Dáil for Roscommon, which he since served in the Dáil with the exception of his return to the Seanad in the period 1973-77. Brian was a popular politician, noted for his sense of humour, affability and admirable personality. He has friends in all parties, on both sides of the House.

We all admired his courage in dealing with ill health over the past few years and deeply regret that he lost that battle today. To his wife Ann and family, his sister, Mary, and brother, Paddy, with whom I served for a long number of years on Roscommon County Council, we extend our deepest sympathy.

Mr. Manning

This is a day of genuine and universal sadness in these Houses and in our country. No one was better loved, or better deserved to be loved, than our friend and colleague, Brian Lenihan. He had friends and admirers in all parties at all times.

The first phrase that comes to mind when one thinks of Brian Lenihan is loveable. He was warm, gregarious and fun loving. He had an infinite capacity for living and for life. Friendship came naturally to him. It was friendship that transcended party boundaries, nationality and age.

However, behind the warmth and the fun there was a fine mind and a very fine brain. He was very well and widely read and was a sharp observer, especially of the foibles of his fellow men and fellow politicians. He also had a deep sense of history and a great and genuine love of his country.

He was an extraordinarily able politician.When he applied himself, his grasp of detail was huge, his intellect sharp and he could bring to the most mundane of debates rare insights and very sharp observations. He was a person who thought a great deal and reflected on the big issues and on history.These reflections would be given to us, whether in debates or while enjoying one of the chats he had with virtually everybody in the House. He was an original thinker and he could bring that originality to bear on the big issues of our time.

It is as a companion and friend that many people here will best remember him. To sit with him, listen to him and chat with him was an education. New Members who came into this House very quickly came under his influence and would very quickly be beguiled and entranced by him as a companion. Although he was never pompous and never took himself too seriously, he had the capacity to say very serious things on a very wide range of issues.

To travel with Brian Lenihan was, in the first instance, to enjoy the experience, but also to see the breadth of his learning. He was a true European. He had a great sense of Europe and a great sense of the adventure and the excitement of bringing the country into Europe and deepening our relationship with Europe. However, as he showed in his later years as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, his grasp was not just European; he had a global grasp of the big events.

To all of us, Brian Lenihan always seemed young, yet it is extraordinary to think today that he was one of the last links in these Houses with that great earlier generation. When he was first elected to the Seanad, Éamon de Valera was Taoiseach. He served under Seán Lemass and with people like Frank Aiken, Seán McEntee and others. For somebody interested in history, it was always an education to listen to Brian's stories, the observations, the anecdotes and the insights he had of that generation, a generation which certainly influenced him, and many of whose values he retained and exemplified to the day of his death.

Brian was, of course, a Fianna Fáil man first, middle and last. To my colleagues and my friends in Fianna Fáil, you have lost a great servant, a great patriot, one of your finest ever. Your loss is truly great. These Houses have also lost a great parliamentarian. In my early days in the other House, it was always a joy to watch his parliamentary jousts with John Kelly, two of the great parliamentarians, two men of sharp intellect, of great humour and erudition, both of whom enjoyed the jousts and the with across the floor. It is something I have not experienced in these Houses since. Brian was a great parliamentarian who loved Parliament. He respected the Houses of Parliament. It was bred in him; it was in every pore of his body.

Most of all, Brian Lenihan was a family man. He had a fine family, whom he loved dearly, as they loved him. He was a genuinely good man, a decent man. To his family, especially, we send our deepest sympathy today.

Mr. Wright

I never thought I would be standing in the Seanad today or any other day paying tribute to my late friend, Deputy Brian Lenihan. We always thought of Brian as being indestructible, a giant of a man in every way who would always be part of the Irish political scene. He is a man who served his country and the Fianna Fáil Party unselfishly for a lifetime. He served in every capacity in both the Dáil and the Seanad and in almost every Ministry. It is important to record what the late Brian Lenihan achieved in politics. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1957 and to the Dáil in 1961. He was a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs up to today. He was previously Tánaiste, three times Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Minister for Education, Minister for Justice, Minister for Defence and Minister for Transport and Power. What a record.

Many pieces of Brian's legislation, which he initiated and steered through both Houses, will bear testament to his life long commitment to serving the people. For example, in legislation which has a bearing on the many debates that take place today on the rights of women, he steered the Succession Act, 1965, through the Oireachtas. It gave women the first guarantee of the rights to share in their husband's estate.

He was a gentle giant in every sense of the word, a unique politician without an enemy on either side of the House as the Leader has so kindly said. In every part of Ireland and at every crossroads one visited the first politician's name to be mentioned was Brian Lenihan and the only thing one heard was love for that politician. That is unique for many of us in politics today. As a result of his commitment to peace, both on this island and internationally, he was known on the international political stage.

I knew Brian Lenihan as a friend for ten years. He was the first person I and many others in this Chamber would approach when in trouble. One would know that advice would be given as a friend and that one could always count on that fact. Brian Lenihan, the great politician, scholar, sporting figure, man of courage and friend to all of us, will be greatly missed. The Leader has rightly mentioned that he was a great Fianna Fáil member. However, he was more than that. He just loved the Oireachtas and all it stood for.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party in this House, I offer my sincere sympathy to his wife, Ann, his sons and daughters, our colleague, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, his brother, Paddy, and all other members of his family.

Mr. O'Toole

This is a sad day. A man who cast a friendly shadow on both Houses for a long time and who was a friend to everybody has died. The real virtue of Brian Lenihan is that he never became the cute hoor politician to which many others were attracted. He was always open, direct and honest.

I will always recall how he handled difficult areas in foreign affairs. Having been an activist in many areas before being elected to this House, I saw the areas in which he was very supportive. On Central American issues he took a progressive stance on behalf of the State. In dealing with groups, such as the PLO and other representatives of the Palestinian cause, he took a progressive and courageous attitude in the European context. I always felt that he was under-estimated by the general public. Being universally liked he was also, in a sense, dismissed and under-estimated.I was delighted to hear the Leader of the House say that he was an intellectual, a man of great intellectual ability. That was evident to anybody who raised with him the latest publication on matters historical, political or in literature. He had a wide interest in sport. The fact that he was a great reader and kept up to date with new ideas is a side of him that is not well known. He always retained that freshness.

We all owe a certain debt to him for his responsible approach to public life. He stood for public life and gave of himself as a public representative. He defended the importance of public representation at every opportunity. That is a legacy we would do well to follow. I appreciate how he was able to say proudly: I am a politician, I am a public representative and I respect my colleagues of whatever party in both Houses. It is fair and right of the Leader to say that his death is a loss to his party. In offering condolences to his wife, sister and his brother, whom I do not know, it is also important to say to his friends on both sides of both Houses that this is a sad day.

He would have appreciated the irony with which we heard the news of his death this afternoon. We were meeting the Iranian delegation and he had quite strong views on that country. As the Iranian delegate was telling us that there were no gay bars in Teheran he also said that he had just heard that our former Foreign Minister had passed away. The coincidence of both remarks was quite ironic and wry.

On a personal note, I feel a degree of sadness. He was approachable and upheld that great tradition of members of the Bar of being always available to young hedgers such as myself when we entered the House. Speaking on behalf of the Independent Members we offer our condolences to his family and his party.

Mr. O'Sullivan

On behalf of my party I join other Members in conveying our sympathy to the family of the late Brian Lenihan and to his party, Fianna Fáil.

It has rightly been said that Brian Lenihan was one of the most loved politicians in this country. He will be sadly missed not just by those who knew him but also by people throughout Ireland. If one were to ask people to list the politician ticians they respected and loved, Brian Lenihan would certainly be in the top ten of most lists, and deservedly so. As Senator Wright said, his service was extraordinary in terms of the offices he held. He was Tánaiste, a Minister in seven or eight Departments and a Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas. He was a Member of this House from 1957 to 1961 and was the Fianna Fáil Leader in the House from 1973 to 1977. He will be remembered in many areas of Irish society.

It is also right to pay tribute to his role as a debater and as somebody who took an interest in the current issue of the day. He had wide knowledge on a great number of issues. In the last few months we saw him contributing to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation when he was quite ill. He still attended the forum on a regular basis and played his part in a thoughtful and knowledgeable way. He played his part in the important issues of the day in this country from the time of de Valera right up to the present. His role in foreign affairs was strong and touched on many parts of the world. He represented this country in a very important way.

On behalf of my party, I convey our sympathy to the family of the late Brian Lenihan, to the members of the Fianna Fáil Party and to all who knew and loved him.

Mr. Dardis

It will be hard to imagine Irish politics without Brian Lenihan at its centre. I share the great sadness of the Members of this House and of the Dáil in recording his passing.

As has been outlined by Senator Wright, he gave a lifetime of distinguished public service. If any of us could leave this place with even a fraction of the service he gave we would have acquitted ourselves with distinction.He was a distinguished parliamentarian in every sense of the word.

It is remarkable that he could show such energy and enthusiasm in that face of such huge physical and health difficulties.It was a measure of the man — I certainly never heard him complain — that he could have such enthusiasm in the throes of a life threatening disease and that he carried himself so well. He did not have a vindictive bone in his body. I can say that with certitude because he took some very heavy political blows, particularly when he contested the Presidency. He carried on professionally, was always pleasant and good company and I never heard a vindictive word from him. That was another measure of the person with whom we were dealing.

There is no question that he was an authority on foreign affairs. His counsel had to be listened to and should be listened to by every member of every party. He was a totally professional politician in the best sense of being professional.That refers back to my point about his not being vindictive — he took the heavy blows and carried on. He was a pleasant and good companion. He was also a true parliamentarian in the best sense of that word. He had an endearing, roguish quality; that is probably what made so many people love him. Many people in both Houses and throughout the country loved Brian Lenihan for his cheerfulness and how he conducted himself. He was a model of what a good public representative should be. He was also a model of how to face illness and disease with courage and equanimity.

For all those reasons I want to be associated with this vote of sympathy. On my behalf and on behalf of the Progressive Democrats I extend to his wife, Ann, to his sister, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, to all the members of his family and to his Fianna Fáil colleagues our deepest sympathy.

Mr. O'Kennedy

The man we are honouring would express himself now by saying "Enough of that, now. Next business", because he, of all men, would not have expected or wished to have special tribute be paid to him. I have already had the opportunity at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to pay tribute to Brian, a former Chairman. Much of his life was devoted to the service of Ireland abroad and to the service of other nations in his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Nothing anyone could say would be an adequate expression of what we all feel. Tributes are being paid across the nation by people in their homes, people who knew and loved him and by people who never knew him but to whom Brian Lenihan meant something very special. He was a unique character in Irish life and politics. As I said in the other House his was a life spent in the service of Ireland.

He loved this House. It was a measure of his self-effacing modesty that, having been in the service of his nation in Government for many years and having been unexpectedly defeated Brian came back to this House where he started in 1957 with the same enthusiasm, commitment and respect he showed in the other House and in Government. I recall how much this House meant to him. It was he who steered me into this House when I first became a candidate in 1965 and could not have been successful without his goodwill and support.

He and I together went out to Paris in 1973 to negotiate the formation of what is now the European Progressive Democrats. We were in discussions there when the message came that the Seanad would meet. He came back from those discussions to this House for a vote which he knew would not be successful to support Senator Kit Ahern for the position of Cathaoirleach. He knew it was a lost cause, but he came back and returned immediately afterwards to continue discussions in Paris. Such was the measure of a man for whom service to this nation at every stage of his life was mingled only with the love he had for his wife, Ann, and his family.

His family made many sacrifices because of his love and commitment to this nation but they always supported his commitment without question. That he could have provided much better financially for the family than he did because of public service, makes him an example to all of us and to those who would be cynical about public life. Brian had before him a very distinguished career at the Bar which would have rendered him a much better financial return than did service in public life, but that was not his option. He illustrated to all of us in public life that in the role of public service, other issues, particularly the financial rewards, do not cast a shadow across the path. May his service be an answer to some and a challenge to the rest of us who can take an example from it. It is an answer to those cynics who would say that men and women in public life are more concerned about the benefits they get than the benefits they can confer on others. That was not Brian Lenihan's approach to public service.

He had a great love for the people, from Donegal to Wexford, from Antrim to Kerry and was known by everyone but he did not have a narrow view on life, or of Ireland's role in the community of nations. He was equally at home in the European movement in which he and I were fellow members in the 1970s and in the Council of Europe and the European Community at all levels.I was privileged to succeed him in many ministries and always to have his support, advice and friendship, above all else.

Brian Lenihan devoted 40 years of his life to public service. It might have been longer, because even when it was clear — maybe the rest of us were guilty in a sense for not making him aware of the fact — that he could not stay in public service to the extent that he wished to in 1989, he had to be almost forced away from the Government of his nation to look after his health. We may have persuaded him too late but in the life that he devoted to us there was no trace or malice or animosity and he respected each and every individual from the youngest to the oldest, from the loftiest to the lowliest. Brian Lenihan has given some example. The best I can do now is to say "Enough of that. Next business". He wants us to carry on the work in every single aspect of our lives in the service of the people.

Mr. Cosgrave

I join with other Members in paying tribute to our late colleague, Deputy Brian Lenihan. He was the second longest serving member of the Oireachtas, with service spanning almost four decades. He was a great servant to the country and rendered distinguished service in many roles, in various ministries, as a Deputy and as a Senator.

The Fianna Fáil Party has lost a great servant. Ireland has lost a great servant. Brian was a friend to us all. He loved the cut and thrust of politics, he loved the various elections, the by-elections and he gave tremendous service and dedication to everything he attended to. To his wife, Ann, and family, to our colleague, Deputy Mary O'Rourke and to his brother, Paddy Lenihan, I extend my sympathy and the sympathy of both Houses today.

Mr. Lanigan

In joining with the other members in expressing our deepest sympathy to the family, Deputy Mary O'Rourke and to Paddy Lenihan, we should reflect on why Brian Lenihan was so loved. He grew in stature despite his many problems associated with his political life. He was elected, was defeated, and fought again and his stature increased. He knew what defeat was and fought against what would have seemed the end to many another politician.

When he got sick, he did not lie down under it. He had major surgery and it was a miracle he survived it at his age. He taught us how to live through difficulties.This is the greatest element of his character which we should remember.

As he grew in stature, so also the stature of Ireland grew. As a small country Ireland would not be as well known and as respected on the international stage were it not for the broadness of the vision Brian Lenihan brought to it. I had the privilege to travel abroad with him on occasions. There is no doubt that among European politicians he was a giant. When we look at the leaders in European politics at present we would have to suggest that if Brian Lenihan had been given the opportunity, the Europe we know would be a better one and his broadness of vision would have helped to resolve many of the problems besetting us.

Brian was not just a politician. He was a great family man. He was probably the best raconteur in the country and the best person to remember anecdotes. His sporting life should not be forgotten. He was a giant on the sports field and as an administrator with the Football Association of Ireland. He served as president of that association with great aplomb. He was truly and deservedly liked.

He had vicissitudes and problems in business and politics but he overcame them. As Senator O'Kennedy said, if he had what might be called the good sense to stay out of politics he would have been much better off financially and able to devote more of his strength to his family. He was a giant and we will miss him.

Mr. Magner

Senator O'Sullivan spoke on behalf of the Labour Party and I concur with what she said. I knew Brian Lenihan when I served under Mr. Brendan Corish. I was introduced to Brian by the late Mr. Seán Casey during a by-election many years ago. He was in every respect a smashing fellow and most approachable. To me at the time he was very important and I was impressed by the fact that not only did he talk to me but took a great deal of time to do so. He was the most receptive man one could meet. He was extremely clever and thoughtful and was an expert in many fields. As Senator Dardis said, he was completely devoid of any sort of malice.

During the early days of television I used to watch him bat for Fianna Fáil and he was the best batsman I ever saw. He may have been one of the main reasons overall majorities for Fianna Fáil were the order of the day because he could almost convince people of the justice and rightness of his case.

He will be sadly missed. I am glad he came into politics. We can seldom use words like "love" in relation to politicians.However, the word can be used with justification about two politicians, the late and much loved Seán Fallon and Brian Lenihan.

Memory of Brian's courage will remain with me for many years. When he came back from America and resumed his duties he never once complained, even when we knew by looking at him that it was not a good day for him. Never once did he bewail his fate. I salute him as do all the members of the Labour Party and we extend our condolences to Brian's family, to Deputy O'Rourke and her family and our colleagues in Fianna Fáil.

Mr. Mullooly

I concur with the tributes paid to the late Deputy Brian Lenihan by previous speakers. I also join in the expression of sympathy to his wife and family, to our colleague in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, Deputy O'Rourke and to my former colleague on Roscommon County Council, Brian's brother, Paddy.

Brian started his political career as a member of Roscommon County Council.In 1957 he was elected to Seanad Éireann and in the following general election he was returned to Dáil Éireann as Deputy for Roscommon. He served as a Deputy for that constituency until 1973. In the general election of that year he lost his seat because of his willingness to put his own seat at risk in order to ensure the election of a colleague.It was because of his unselfishness that he failed to be returned to Dáil Éireann. In the subsequent Seanad election he was again elected to this House and served as its Leader for a number of years.

Brian Lenihan will be remembered as one of the most popular and outstanding Irish politicians of the second half of the twentieth century. During a long and distinguished political career he held several ministerial offices. He also served with distinction as Tánaiste for a number of years. In later years his battle against indifferent health was a measure of his courage and determination. It was always a pleasure to meet him. As a colleague he was always courteous and pleasant. As a Minister he was always approachable and anxious to be helpful. He will be greatly missed across the whole spectrum of Irish life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Doyle

I am honoured to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Brian Lenihan. When I became a Member of Dáil Éireann in 1982 he gave me a wonderfully warm reception. Like the Leader I enjoyed the wonderful banter between Brian Lenihan and the late Deputy John Kelly. I often thought John was a little personal at times towards Brian but Brian always accepted this with a great sense of humour.

I have a wonderful memory of him which at least two or three Members will share. After the 1989 general election the Dáil assembled to elect a Taoiseach.The Dáil was packed and there was great excitement. Brian had his operation during the election. When he appeared on the steps of the Chamber there was a spontaneous reaction from Members. They all rose and applauded him. He received the warmest reception I have ever seen given to a Member of the Dáil. Politicians loved Brian and he loved politics. I offer my deepest sympathy to his wife, family, sister and Fianna Fáil colleagues who have lost a loyal friend.

Mr. Bohan

I am devastated. Brian was as close to me for the last 30 years as anybody could be, even my brother. We all knew how ill he was but we thought he would recover. I do not think anybody suffered as much as he during the last six years. I always felt that somebody over and above his doctors was looking after him. It came as a terrible shock to hear this evening of his death. I spoke to his wife Ann recently and she told me there had been some improvement in his health. I said I was not surprised because he had gone through so much and that with luck he might pull through. Unfortunately, he did not.

If there is a heaven Brian has gone to it. I have known him for a long time and I never heard him say a bad word against anyone, including those in Opposition. Brian always had a good word to say about everyone and he believed there was a reason people acted in the way they did.

He has left a great legacy behind him in his family. He has four fine sons of whom everyone is proud. They have all done well in life and his daughter, Anita, was the joy of his life. It is a sad day for Ireland and for those in politics.

Mr. Belton

I express my sympathy to the family of the late Brian Lenihan. He had a long association with the midlands, Athlone, Westmeath, Roscommon and Longford. I was friendly with him. He had a great personality throughout his political career of 40 years. He had bad moments in politics, but that did not change his great sense of humour and dedication to his party, his country and to democracy.

Mr. Finneran

It was with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Brian Lenihan. All those who knew him will be saddened to hear it, particularly the people of County Roscommon who will feel they have lost a loved son.

It is strange that, following the death of the former Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Seán Fallon, we are again paying tribute to an Athlone man who served the country so well. Brian Lenihan was loved throughout County Roscommon and well known by every household. Brian played a major role in improving the economic life of the county and providing infrastructural developments to help to raise the county's standards and bring them up to a level which was more advanced than those on the east coast.

As Senator Mullooly said, it was not the fault of the electorate that Brian lost his seat in 1973. Brian contributed to his downfall by putting the party first and trying to win a second seat for the county. Although he fell between two stools, he did not regret his actions.

His last engagement should have been at a function in County Roscommon some weeks ago. However, he became ill in Athlone and could not attend. Those who were being honoured with him that night were Dr. Hugh Gibbons, the man who won a seat in 1973, and the former Taoiseach, Deputy Reynolds. Tributes were paid to these people and the party's general secretary accepted the presentation on Brian's behalf and gave it to his family the following day. It is a pity he did not arrive in Roscommon town that night. However, the 400 people who attended that function will always remember that they were there on the night that Brian was to attend.

His contribution to this country and to the international scene was enormous.Members are sincere in their love for Brian Lenihan. The Fianna Fáil organisation in Roscommon and nationally and his colleagues in both Houses of the Oireachtas had a soft spot for him and it was with a heavy heart that they received this news this afternoon.

His death is a major blow to Irish politics. Brian first tested the waters in 1954 in Longford-Westmeath and was elected in 1957. He played a major part in politics and introduced legislation during his time in different ministries. He introduced the Succession Act, 1965, which for the first time gave dignity to widows. He also introduced amendments to the Censorship Acts which were repressive and brought them into line with the thinking of the 1970s and 1980s.

We express our deepest sympathy to his wife, Ann, his family, his brother, Paddy, who served on Roscommon County Council, and to his sister, Mary, who still serves Fianna Fáil, Westmeath and the country.

Mr. Reynolds

The first time I met Brian Lenihan was in 1973 at the election count in Roscommon when my father took his seat. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs. I was ten years of age and I did not know what was going on. I remember people carrying my father on their shoulders and saying it was amazing that the Minister for Foreign Affairs had been defeated. He shook my hand and I was dumbfounded because I was a young fellow from Leitrim who had not been to many places. He told me to always remember that night because it would be one of the best nights I would ever have.

I was elected in 1987. Brian Lenihan was a gentleman who always spoke to people whether he was a Minister or a backbencher. He was the epitome of a politician. Brian Lenihan's name could have appeared opposite the word "politician" in a dictionary. He was everything people thought a politician should be, although some people disagreed with him. However, he believed in what he stood for.

He will be a huge loss to the Fianna Fáil Party and to this country. I express my deepest sympathy to his wife, Ann, and to the rest of his family.

Mr. McGowan

I join other Members in expressing our sympathy to his wife, Ann, his family, his sister, Mary, and his brother, Paddy. Brian Lenihan was a national figure. I will miss his wisdom on the troubles in the North. He had a positive contribution to make on this issue regardless of the difficulties which existed. He had wisdom, knowledge and foresight second to none in this State. He belonged to the grass roots of public representatives.

I invited him to County Donegal in June to present trophies in recognition of people who had served 50 years in Fianna Fáil. He readily accepted the invitation, came to County Donegal and did us proud on that occasion. We expected nothing less but we were honoured to have him. I appreciate the contribution made by the Leader of the House and we all join in extending our sadness and sympathy to his family.

Ms Honan

I also wish to be associated with the tributes paid to Brian Lenihan. He was an extremely kind and courteous man to everybody, a quality that one does not expect to find anymore.

To me, he represented Irish politics. When he lost his seat in 1973, I was at an economics lecture in UCC. Before the class started that evening, the lecturer told us that it looked like Brian Lenihan would lose his seat. Not many of us were that interested in politics or politicians at the time but everybody knew who he was and had great affection for him.

I remember being struck by his ability not to bear a grudge, no matter what troubles he met, and he met many, especially as far as his health and public life were concerned. When taking part in politics in these Houses, he was able to put the past behind him and move on, which is an extraordinary measure to find in any man or woman.

Few people would have the strength of character of Brian Lenihan, be able to face the difficulties he had, especially with his health and after the last presidential election, be brave and courageous and to move on. He is an example to us and to anybody who does not have a high regard for politicians. We are grateful and lucky to have served with him in these Houses. It is difficult to imagine that we will not see him walking around either of these Houses again.

I extend my sympathies to his wife and thank her and her family for allowing us to have had him for so long. I also extend my sympathies to the Fianna Fáil Party, particularly to his sister, Deputy O'Rourke. He is a huge loss; the party had his loyalty for many years and it will be difficult to imagine life without him.

Mr. Enright

I share the regret felt by all Members and the people on the death of Deputy Brian Lenihan. He was a wonderful family man. He practised as a barrister in the midlands and was extremely good at it. If a solicitor had a difficult case and wanted somebody who would at least put up a good fight, they could not do better than Brian Lenihan.

When Fianna Fáil was in difficulties, it was Brian Lenihan who came on television and he was always able to put up a splendid performance. The harder the difficulty, the better he responded. He did it with style, flair and great imagination at all times. He was a wonderful Irishman. Any of us who knew him were the better for it. He always had a great knowledge of current and international affairs and it was an experience for anybody to listen to him. He was a devoted servant of Fianna Fáil and I can understand how it feels on losing somebody of his calibre and ability. People like him do not come around very often and we were fortunate to have met someone of his ability.

Some Members referred to the 1973 General Election. I was at the Portlaoise count but I took time off to watch the Roscommon count. At the time Brian Lenihan's seat was in danger and Fianna Fáil looked as if it was going out of office. The then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, was on television when the bad news came from County Roscommon. There were tears in his eyes that night because his friend was losing his seat. He felt the loss of Brian Lenihan's seat as much as Fianna Fáil losing power because they were close friends.

While Brian Lenihan came from the midlands, he regarded himself as being more of a west of Ireland man. He had a great knowledge of, and did much for, the west. His most important legislation may have been the Succession Act, 1965. At that time, women had few legal rights as far as their homes and land were concerned. His Succession Act meant a lot to these women and he will always be remembered for that.

He had extraordinary kindness and great wisdom and we have all suffered a great loss on his passing.

Mr. Farrell

I join in the tributes paid to the late Brian Lenihan. He was one of the last great characters in these Houses. He was a brilliant scholar, politician and lawyer but a plain and simple man. Typical of that was the way in which he greeted Senator Reynolds when he was 10 years of age. He was the same up to the day he died. He had a special place for everybody and spoke to all.

Brian Lenihan was at his best when he was involved in by-elections or on the platform. No matter how tough the going, he never descended to personality clashes or trivialities, which is why he was loved by all. He played the political game at a high level and never let personalities blind his vision to the policies and goals he was pursuing.

He was a fine Minister for Education. Many schools were extended and expanded during his tenure as Minister. His mother was a native of my parish and came from a great republican family.It was on the kitchen floor of his mother's house that County Sligo's noble six were brought down dead from the Benbulben mountains many years ago. He never lost his touch with the west or County Sligo. A room in Sligo Regional Technical College is known as the Lenihan Room as a tribute to him as Minister for Education.

Brian Lenihan is gone but he has left many good friends. Where Lazarus is poor no longer, Brian is renewing old acquaintances and is regaining contact with many old friends from the past. I extend my sincere sympathies to his wife, Ann, his family, his sister, Deputy O'Rourke, and his brother, Paddy. Go dtuga Dia suimhneas do anam Bhriain.

Mr. Sherlock

The announcement this evening of the death of Brian Lenihan came as a great shock and sadness. I got to know Brian Lenihan in 1981 when I was first elected to the Dáil and I always admired his affable and genial manner. His great knowledge of his subject always captured one's imagination. He was a man who occupied centre stage on the national political scene and the international scene for many years. He certainly made a great impact. Ba mhaith liom, ar mo shon féin agus ar son mo pháirtí, cuidiú leis an gcomhbhrón lena a bhean chéile, a chlann agus lena dheirfiúr.

Mr. Daly

I wish to join with my colleagues in their expression of profound sympathy to Mrs. Ann Lenihan and her family, Deputy Mary O'Rourke and her brother, Mr. Paddy Lenihan, on the untimely death of Brian Lenihan. I knew Brian Lenihan long before I was elected to the Oireachtas. On the day I was elected to the Dáil in 1973 he lost his seat in that House and was subsequently elected to this House.

Brian made outstanding contributions to political debate, not only here but in the international fora of the United Nations and the European Union. On many occasions during my first visits to the European Community many of his former colleagues there were keen to follow his progress in Irish political life. He had made many friends for Ireland in the Community in the early days of Ireland's membership. In his capacity as Minister for Fisheries and Forestry he was involved in the delicate negotiations for the conclusion of the Common Fisheries Policy and was highly regarded throughout the Community for the political leadership he gave at that difficult time. I can recall discussing afterwards the contribution he made with some Irish officials both here and in the Community and they were loud in their praise of the skill, dedication and expertise of the late Brian Lenihan.

As Minister for Defence, I had occasion to meet with people who had been working with him in a difficult time for the Army with the establishment of RACO and PDFORRA. Brian Lenihan handled those negotiations in a delicate way and succeeded in putting in place a framework for Permanent Defence Forces representative organisations, both for the soldiers and the officers of the Army. In every sphere of activity in which he was involved during his political career, he brought a breadth of knowledge and expertise and a dimension which had a long-term impact on the framing of whatever issue or policy was involved. He will be a major loss to the political life of this country at home and abroad. I am sure his work will be an inspiration to all of us to continue the same high level of commitment to political life that he gave the Dáil.

I wish to be associated with the vote of sympathy to his widow, Ann, to all his relatives, especially those in north Clare, where he still had many relations and where he had a deep and lasting friendship with many people. He will be sadly missed, not only in this House but in many counties and especially in County Clare, for which he had a special affection and a special knowledge of its people's work. I want to be associated with the sentiments expressed by my colleagues.

Mr. Ross

It is the greatest tribute to Brian Lenihan that virtually every Member of this House feels a compulsion to say something in tribute to him this evening for no other reason than real personal sadness. There is a sense of unity which is rare in this House and I am sure this is true of the Dáil as well. This is a great tribute to the man we are all mourning today.

I do not believe that there are any more anecdotes that need to be told because, as Senator O'Kennedy quite rightly said, if Brian Lenihan were listening to this, he would say: "Enough, enough; let us get on with the next business.This is unnecessary." I suppose it was his sense of cheerfulness, mischief, laughter and comedy which many of us will remember. One always felt better for meeting Brian Lenihan. Even if it was for a short few minutes, he left one with a spring in one's step and feeling more cheerful. He had made one laugh. There was simply no malice in this man; he just could not feel any personal animosity against anybody, which is rare in public life.

Many years ago in this House a somewhat petulant university Senator had an extraordinary political row with Brian Lenihan when he was a Minister. It took the best part of half an hour and was unresolved at the end. They met in the bar afterwards — dare I say it — by accident. Brian Lenihan invited the Senator to have a drink and he refused, because he was still furious. The Minister, as he was then, simply could not understand this because he was a great parliamentarian and he believed that the fight should be fought in here but, once we got outside those doors, it was over. That is an amazingly great quality.

We are today mourning — and I say this without exaggeration — the greatest parliamentarian of this generation. He was not a great parliamentarian just in terms of longevity; he was a great parliamentarian in himself, with a great respect for both these Houses, and we need more people like him. I would like to join with the sympathy to his wife, Ann, and to his children and to say I do not believe we will see another man like him in our time.

Mr. Fitzgerald

It is with deep regret and a certain emotion that I rise to pay my respects to Brian Lenihan, a former Member of this House, who died today. Brian was a great man. I first met Brian Lenihan at a by-election in Dingle in 1966 and there was not a time that I met him, over the years, when he would not ask me about people he had met in Dingle at that time. I would often say to Brian that the person he was talking about was a Fine Gael supporter. He would tell me not to mind that. There were no divisions for Brian.

Over the last five or six years Brian must have suffered quietly because of the major operations which he had and the difficulties he experienced in that time. I never once heard him complaining.He was still the same lighthearted Brian. He had a light step when he walked into a room. Senator Enright is right. I remember times when we in Fianna Fáil were down because of bad results after an election and things were going wrong. Brian was the man who boosted us up. Everybody in the House will remember Brian's lead-up speech at an Árd-Fheis before the arrival of the leader of the party of the Taoiseach. He brought the house to its feet. These are some of the things we will all remember Brian for.

His contribution to legislation, to its initiation and passage through both Houses is written in the history books. Because of my interest in fishing, I remember being in contact with Brian when he was Minister for Fisheries and Forestry. We had difficulties in Dingle because fishing was not good and fishermen could not pay for their boats. I am sure Senator McGowan would have had the same problems in Donegal. Brian was the man who levelled it out and gave them a new chance.

His contribution to the country in Government and in Opposition over 40 years cannot be forgotten. He was a great republican and Nationalist. He played a part over the years in trying to bring peace to the country and recently played a major role in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. Those achievements are all a monument to Brian Lenihan.

Bhí cáirde ag Brian i ngach cúinne den tír seo agus ar fud an domhain. Tá Brian i bhFlaitheas Dé inniu le cáirde ó gach taobh den Teach seo. Fear mór bríomhar b'é Brian. Bhí croí mór aige agus bhí grá mór aige don tír seo agus do mhuintir na tíre.

It is with regret that I extend my sympathy to his wife Ann, his sons and daughter, his sister, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, his brother, Paddy, and other members of his family. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Quinn

There is an O'Henry short story about the invitations received to the funeral of an old lady who had lost contact with her friends for many years. When they arrived at the funeral she was there to meet them and she said "Sure I would not miss this for anything".My sadness this evening is that Brian is not here to hear the tributes. Senator O'Kennedy has told us that Brian would tell us to get on with things. I have learned a lot more about Brian Lenihan tonight than I knew before.

What sticks out in my mind was his sense of humour — I never met him without a smile on his face and he always brought a smile to whoever was in his company. There is a definition of a gentleman as somebody who will never deliberately hurt anybody and that may be attributed to Brian Lenihan.

I remember being on the steps of Kildare House last year when Senator Lanigan asked me if I would like to meet Yasser Arafat. Brian Lenihan opened the door of the car when Yasser Arafat arrived and the sign of recognition, friendship and delight on his face when he saw Brian Lenihan and their embrace made it clear that Brian had an ability to cross boundaries and divides. He was a statesman in that respect.

Having listened to the other tributes paid to his qualities I would say we are lucky to have had Brian Lenihan. I thank his family for the amount of time they allowed him to share with the nation. He must have given up a huge amount of personal time to share his time with his colleagues here and around the country. We are grateful to his family for allowing us to share in that time. Our thoughts go to his wife Ann, his sister, Mary, his brother, Paddy, and his children. They will miss him, remember him with honour and pride and, I am sure, will look back on the good times.

Mr. Haughey

In my short time in this House Brian Lenihan befriended and helped me. He gave me good advice; he gave me the right advice with the right heart. Brian was known and respected throughout Ireland, including Northern Ireland. The people in Northern Ireland who would differ from his political beliefs respected him, knew he was a man they could trust and a man of honour.They knew there were few people in this country with whom they could have such good Socratic debate.

There will always be geese and swans in life. Brian was a swan and he made an enormous contribution to the political scene. He was a fair man who had a great thirst for peace. He liked to see everybody excel in what they did. He gave me invaluable advice. I wish to be associated with the expressions of good wishes and sympathy to his family. We will miss Brian.

Mr. Byrne

I join the other Members in expressing sympathy to the Lenihan family on Brian's death. When he lost his Dáil seat in 1973 I remember meeting him in Tipperary. Many people had seen him on television and an old man came up to him and told him he had been around a long time but was delighted Brian lost his seat. Brian was amused and asked him what he meant. He replied that he would not have met him in the flesh otherwise. Brian laughed it off and said it gave him a great opportunity to meet people around the country. He was a great man. He gave a lifetime to serving the public and made many sacrifices which reflected on his health. We should all reflect on the toll that public life can exact on public representatives and their families.

He was a man for making peace, whether debating an issue on television or in the Oireachtas. He was a great family man. He always had a smile on his face, even when times were bad for him. He always had hope and I am sure he is happy today.

Dr. Henry

Brian Lenihan was a man of great charm and good humour. It is a mark of the affection in which he was held that we all feel that he felt for us as we felt for him. In the last five years I was struck by the incredible courage with which he faced suffering and illness.If one asked him how he was he always replied there was no problem. It has been widely said that he was incredibly proud of his family, but they were also proud of him. I had the privilege of meeting his daughter Anita in Oxford a few months ago and when I mentioned him to her it was lovely to see the glow in her face as she spoke about him. When I came back to Dublin and told him I had met Anita there was a reciprocal glow from him.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to his family for allowing him to be with us over the last few months. I particularly express sympathy to his sister Deputy Mary O'Rourke. It must have been very difficult for her to go on with her political life in the Oireachtas and work in a public role knowing how seriously ill Brian was.

Mrs. McGennis

It was with sadness that I learned of the death of my constituency colleague, Deputy Lenihan. He had been ill in the last few weeks but being who he was I expected he would get better. I knew him since I joined the party in 1981 but he was a household name long before that. I also knew about him through my father, who was a party member and canvassed in the former Dublin West County constituency with Deputy Lenihan, Deputy Lawlor and Mr. Terry Boylan in the 1970s.

Senators mentioned the 1989 election. The vote he secured then was an indication of the high esteem in which he was held by his constituents — he topped the poll although he was not able to canvass.After that election, when he returned to health, we were on a walkabout in a housing estate and I saw something I never saw before and probably will never see again; large numbers of children following Brian around the estate, calling his name and asking for his autograph. He was a popular man with young and old. His positive attitude to life and work was epitomised by his phrase "no problem". He carried that through in the constituency — no matter what the difficulty was, it could be resolved and overcome.

I offer my sympathy to his wife, Ann, his sister, Deputy O'Rourke, his brother Paddy, his sons Niall, Brian, Conor and Paul and his daughter Anita. This must be a difficult time for them.

Miss Ormonde

I wish to be associated with the tributes today. My friendship with Brian goes back a long way to when I was around this House as a young girl, never thinking I would one day be a Member. When I was elected a Senator, one of the first phone calls I received was from Brian Lenihan — he was so pleased another Ormonde was coming into the House. When I met him afterwards he was always ready to give me advice and tell me what to do. More importantly, given the fast lane nature of politics today, he was always a listener.He found time to have a one-to-one conversation and empathise with one's difficulties. He had such insight and understanding into how people went about their business that he knew immediately what was worrying them and how he might help overcome the problem.

Brian was a family man and he extended that orientation into his political life. He was a great parliamentarian. He came from the old Fianna Fáil school and understood that commitment to the party was absolute. That was shown when he lost his seat — most people would have been inclined to give up but not Brian. He was geared to success and commitment; he epitomised these qualities and showed the rest of us how important it was to stick with what we enjoyed. He loved politics and was at home there, as was reflected in how he did his business.

My last contact with him was at the forum where I sat beside him. During that period he had a little more time to do his reading. He used to bring me a list of books and tell me I must read them because they would be useful to me, whether I became an academic or went into politics. I told him I did not have time to read but he said I must. He always thought of the goodness of people and how important it was that they develop in their careers. I will miss Brian, especially the way he spoke to me and listened. I will particularly miss him from the forum because he was so keen about the peace process. Until the end he was anxious it would be a success.

I offer sympathy to his wife Ann, his children Brian and Conor, whom I know, the other children and his sister Deputy O'Rourke, who has had a difficult time in the last few weeks, working in politics while being aware of what was happening in the family.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

I join with colleagues in extending sympathy to Mrs. Ann Lenihan and her family and to Brian's sister, Deputy O'Rourke. We all feel we have lost a friend. He was from a different political party but was friendly to everyone. One great characteristic of his was that no matter what debate took place in the House, the row ended when we went outside. Even in the course of the most heated political debates, we could always see the sense of humour, the fun and roguery glimmering in Brian's eye. He had a brilliant capacity for dealing with people. No matter where they came from or what position they held, he made them feel important. He had a great nature and sense of their value. He enjoyed tracing their connections and recalling various events.

He was a fine national politician and his contribution, not only to Fianna Fáil but to Ireland, has been outstanding. He was a brilliant man who chose to serve the public rather than pursue what would have been a distinguished legal career. He under-played his brilliance but he acquitted himself extraordinarily well in his various portfolios. His knowledge and understanding of world affairs were expansive. His positive attitude to life was particularly clear since he underwent surgery. I will always remember when he returned after his operation that he received a standing ovation from all sides when he entered the Chamber. There was genuine goodwill from everyone present because they all liked him.

He will be deeply missed by his wife Ann and his family because people like Brian Lenihan do not often enter public life. It is hard to imagine anyone being fit to stand in his shoes or replace a man of his talent, ability, capacity, good humour, good sense and positive attitude to life.

Mr. R. Kiely

I also associate myself with the tributes paid to our late colleague Brian Lenihan. I knew him before I came to the House — I met him during a by-election in Limerick West in 1967 and since I came here in 1977 we developed a friendship. It was always nice to meet him and one would go away happy afterwards. Many tributes have been paid to him today and all of them are deserved.

As Senator Fitzgerald said, there was only one Brian Lenihan. He served this House ably and was respected by all. He was a wonderful parliamentarian. During his illness he showed great courage. His few defeats were mentioned; Senator Enright recalled watching Mr. Jack Lynch talking to Brian on television during the 1973 election. He accepted defeat gracefully on that occasion, as he did when he unfortunately lost the presidential election.

He had many wonderful achievements and served in several Departments.Some of his achievements which may not be equalled were that he was the only Member to serve under six party leaders; and he was the only Member to serve with his father, and later with his sister, a great achievement by his family.

Brian was a very nice man and his love of children was mentioned earlier. Children also loved him. When he first came to the House, I brought my son, aged eight or nine. He met Brian Lenihan because Brian would meet everyone. When he was going home my son was delighted that he had met such a great man. His passing is a great loss to the Houses of the Oireachtas and I offer my sincere sympathy to his wife, Ann, whom I know, his sons, his daughter, his sisters, Mary and Kate, and his brother Paddy.

Professor Lee

I came to know Brian Lenihan by a circuitous route because I met him in the archives before I met him in person. However, when I met him in person, it took no time at all to realise that the impression conveyed by the archives was valid. He was one of the best brains of modern Irish political life.

He had one of the most capacious minds, even if he felt at times obliged — this is a reflection on our political culture — to conceal it in case he appeared to be talking down to people. However, he could not conceal that he was one of the most decent human beings in public life. He also gave lie to an image that many political scientists, though happily not in this House, cherish of the legendary localism of Irish politics somehow reflecting a backward and primitive political culture. He showed how one can combine strong local loyalties with a national and universal perspective on current affairs.

I recall him at the funeral of Professor Dudley Edwards in University Church several years ago when he was still Minister for Foreign Affairs. He looked like death warmed up on that occasion. When one thinks of the suffering he endured and the enormous physical, psychological and, in the best sense of the term, spiritual courage with which he endured it, we can say that if ever we wanted an example of grace under pressure, it is Brian Lenihan in the face of that pain.

One word has not yet been used in the many splendid tributes which have been paid but when one thinks of it, it describes his response to disappointments, whether political or health. That word is "dignity". He was an extraordinarily dignified man behind his folksy lively personality. He had true dignity and he is literally irreplaceable. Senator Fitzgerald made a comment and I will repeat it because we can truly say it of him: ní bheidh a leithead arís ann. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Cassidy

I wish to be associated with the many tributes to the late Brian Lenihan. As Members are aware, he first stood for election in 1954 in the constituency of Longford-Westmeath. His father became a TD and represented Longford-Westmeath and his sister, Mary, is a distinguished Member of the Oireachtas representing the Westmeath constituency.

Brian Lenihan was a father figure for most Members of the House. We looked up to him. If we sought his advice we took it 90 per cent of the time because it was the right thing to do. I had a long close personal association with him, as far back as the early 1960s. A great friend of his, the late Joe Kennedy, played a very important part in his young political career, as Brian often told me, when he first stood in 1954 with Erskine Childers, Tom Carter and the late M. J. Kennedy in the Longford-Westmeath constituency.

At that time he was viewed by the Fianna Fáil hierarchy as the brightest young new political brain available to the party. How right those great men and founder members of the party were. We have the benefit of hindsight on his 41 years of public service and we know the great contribution Brian made to the State. As many previous speakers said, people had great respect for him, especially in Europe and America. He had many friends in the Senate and House of Representatives. Everyone who met him had to be impressed by his commitment and wide knowledge of political affairs worldwide.

Reference was made to the time he lost his seat in 1973 and we watched the television programme that night. However, he regained the seat through the dignified manner in which he accepted his defeat, which came about as a result of the swing against the Government at that time. If I had had a vote in the constituency in which he next stood, I would have done everything in my power to ensure he regained his seat, as he did handsomely at the next election. He held that seat until his death today.

Senator Lee mentioned the reception he received when he came back to Leinster House, having regained his seat in 1989 and after his successful visit to the Mayo Clinic. That day will remain a highlight of my memories as a Member of the Oireachtas and my association with Brian Lenihan. It was the greatest occasion in my 14 years membership of the Oireachtas to see the way he was honoured by Members on all sides. It stands as a testimony to Brian Lenihan and the man we knew.

I offer my sympathy to his wife, Ann, sons Brian and Conor, the other members of his family, Paddy, Deputy Mary O'Rourke and her husband, Enda, and all the Lenihan family. It is very sad that we must pass a vote of sympathy on the passing of another great Athlone man following the death of Senator Seán Fallon.

Mr. Howard

I speak tonight with a feeling of genuine sadness. I wish to be associated with the message of sympathy to Brian Lenihan's family and I express my regret at the sad news of his passing. I wish to refer to a number of aspects of the late Brian Lenihan about which I came to know. Senator Cassidy referred to him as an Athlone man but his roots were in my county of Clare. His father was born in a village called Gortown, between Ennistymon and Kilfenora, and his grandfather taught in the local school there. A family connection exists and he remembered this when I came to the House. It may not be known to many but it was known to us and his friendship, support and advice were extended.

I wish to refer to another aspect of Brian Lenihan, that is, the remarkable courage of a man with a very serious illness.He accepted it and fought it over a period of eight to ten years. The courage he showed in the face of what he endured was truly remarkable. His immense contribution to political life is recognised. It was with genuine sadness that I learned of his death tonight and I wish to be associated with the message of sympathy to his wife, Ann, and his family.

Mr. Roche

It is with genuine sadness that I contribute tonight because we are commemorating a unique individual. It was already stated that this man had grace and dignity. He was an extraordinary man who had no capacity to be vindictive or show malice; he had no capacity to show anything other than respect for political friends and foes. In every sense, Brian Lenihan was a real liberal. He had the capacity to listen to everybody, absorb their ideas, accept what was right and never show recrimination.He was ever optimistic.

As is the wont in Irish life, our lives criss-crossed over a long number of years. I remember having the task as a young civil servant of bringing a file to the Minister; the Minister in question was Brian Lenihan. I remember his good spirits and how he put a young and awkward civil servant at his ease.

I was with Brian Lenihan on that fateful day during the presidential campaign when news arrived at our organisation in County Wicklow, where he was canvassing, about the Duffy tape. Some of our responses were not great, to say the least. In my case, the response was one of disappointment because a great man, who had shown generosity and kindness to a student, was being repaid in a destructive manner. Brian Lenihan did not utter a word of malice on that occasion. He was the greater of all those present on that day.

He was a great friend to people who entered politics on all sides of the House. He showed great generosity and spirit. One of the things I will always remember about Brian — to which Senator Ormonde referred — was his extraordinary capacity to read and absorb information. Senator Lee paid a very kind tribute to him in this regard. People in public life in Ireland must disguise their intellect and that is a great pity. Brian Lenihan was none of the things in the image of Irish politics which is sometimes fostered. He had a great interest in every locality. He had a great interest in the individual, ordinary and extraordinary. He had a higher view of the nature of politics. We will never see his like again.

My personal sympathy goes to his wife Ann, the children, his sister, Mary, brother Paddy, the whole family and to Irish politics. We have truly lost a great man. When people are cynical about politics we can hold up the image of Brian Lenihan. He made a tremendous contribution to public life and politics. We are all diminished by what has occurred today.

Mr. Lydon

I would like to express my deep sympathy to Brian's wife, Ann, their children and his family. I knew Brian for a good number of years and could tell many stories, but I will tell only one.

Following a Fianna Fáil convention at Castlebar during a European election campaign some years ago, I was travelled back to Dublin by car with Brian and a mutual friend, Owen Patton. Between stops on the journey I became aware of the amount Brian knew about foreign affairs. I was astounded by his knowledge — and I mean that sincerely. I only had to mention a country and Brian knew everything about its politics, who was in charge, how they were elected, its geography, history and sociology.I have never met anyone with such a comprehensive knowledge of foreign affairs.

I learned much about foreign affairs on that journey. I also learned about other things; I learned about politics in Ireland and a little about life. We left Castlebar at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday and stopped for dinner with former Senator Martin Joe O'Toole and some of his friends. We made a number of other stops and arrived in Dublin at 5.30 p.m. on Monday. Owen Patton and I were exhausted but Brian attended a meeting and dinner with an Austrian forestry delegation. I do not know where he got the energy. He was a tremendous character. That is the Brian I remember well. He was always gregarious and good humoured.

He had many good qualities but I will mention only two. The first was his courage. It is easy to say, when people pass away, that they bore their illness with great courage but Brian really did. I never heard him complain. The second was his kindness. I know, from acts of kindness he showed me and many others, that he was a tremendously kind person. He was warm-hearted, genuine and sincere. If I could pay him any compliment it would be that he was one of the most decent men who ever stood in shoe leather. His great friend, Senator Bohan, said that if there is a heaven he was sure Brian is in it. There is a heaven. There has to be for men like Brian Lenihan. He rests there in peace.

Mr. Norris

I will be brief because I had the opportunity to pay tribute to Brian Lenihan at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

There are a number of qualities which we all remember and cherish about Brian Lenihan. It is so difficult to think or speak about him in the past tense. It almost beggars comprehension that somebody so mentally alive and alert has passed so suddenly and sadly from us. He had extraordinary perseverance. He was, in a way, the "comeback kid" of Irish politics. I remember him being defeated in an election having topped the poll in the previous election. Yet he was able to come back. He returned to the heart of politics after the presidential election — with all its bruising difficulties — without, as Senator Roche stated, any apparent rancour or bitterness.I am glad he died in harness, which is the way he would have wanted it. I was very fond of him and I believe he would agree that the country obtained an excellent choice in the present President.He himself would have made a very good President.

However, having lost the presidential election he returned in a role I am sure he was pleased to fill, that of first Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. In that role he displayed all the qualities of diplomacy and decency — several Members have used that term to describe him because he was the ultimate decent man. No partisanship existed on that committee. Our discussions crossed party lines and we reached decisions and adopted by way of consensus.

I am glad Senator Roche also referred to his intellectual capacity and made the point that very often in Irish life we tend to disguise intellectual qualities. It is almost as if we are embarrassed about our intellectual attainments. Brian Lenihan possessed an extraordinarily acute intelligence and perceptive analysis of international affairs.

He also wrote beautifully. It was with the greatest pleasure that I read various articles he contributed to various newspapers in recent years. They always displayed a real depth of understanding and perception of international affairs. At the same time he was always approachable. Nobody was too junior to receive the affectionate guidance of Brian Lenihan.

I believe he would have enjoyed today's meeting with the Iranians. I will not call them our Iranian friends because they certainly are no friends of mine. What could be described as a frank exchange of views took place. Brian would have been pleased by that. Although he would have been presidential in his role as Chairman, he would have said — as he did when I took a swipe at the then French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppé —"Good man David", out of the corner of his mouth as we left the Chamber.

He had a wonderful, roguish sense of fun but was also very much a family man. He had a very fine family of which he was correctly but modestly proud. In particular, I believe he was extraordinarily lucky to have his wife, Ann, to whom we all send our sympathy, as his helpmate throughout his life. She stood by him in very difficult and trying times during a protracted illness. I remember meeting him shortly before he travelled to America for a liver transplant operation.He was walking with his wife on Bull Island and I have never seen a man look so haggard or exhausted. One would have buried him that day. He went to America, had the operation and fought an election from his hospital bed. That was a marvellous thing to do but then he was a remarkable man. We are diminished by his death.

I try to avoid clichés but there are times when clichés are appropriate. The one that comes to my mind is ní fheicimid a leithéid arís because there is no doubt that we will not see the like of Brian Lenihan again.

It is a sad day for this country but he had a fulfilled life and made a remarkable and generous contribution to public life. In an age when we are cynical about politics and politicians, he was a man who dedicated his life to politics and I do not think he made any great fortune from it. If he had gone into public relations or the media, he would have made a fortune. He carried his qualities of decency into public life for the enrichment of all of us. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Maloney

I offer my sincere sympathies to Brian Lenihan's wife, Ann, and her family. When I came into the House after the 1993 Seanad Éireann election, I became a member of the foreign affairs committee. I always found Brian to be a kind, decent person who was always prepared to give advice.

I think about his interest in football. At the time, my son played football in Germany and every time I met Brian, he always inquired about him. It said much about the man that out of a sense of kindness he always inquired about him.

His wife, Ann, has a number of relations living outside Letterkenny, the Devines and the Connaughtans, and Brian was always well received in that area. The results of the presidential election in the Donegal area strongly bore that out. At weekend clinics I get representations from people. If they felt I was not making any progress, they would say they could always go to Brian Lenihan with the matter. His power seemed to extend even as far as Donegal.

Brian has gone to join many decent people who have left both Houses of the Oireachtas, people like the late Senator Gordon Wilson and Seán Fallon. To his wife and family, I offer my sincere sympathy.

Mr. D. Kiely

It is with sadness I pay tribute to a great statesman and a dear friend. I knew Brian Lenihan since 1965 when he visited me in Kerry and did me the honour of opening a hotel for me in Ballybunion. I had known of him prior to that in my years in America.

He had the stature of somebody like Éamon de Valera. One wonders what political life would be like at present there had he settled down in Tralee, County Kerry, where he lived for a time. Would I or other people like me get to see the inside of any House of the Oireachtas?

Brian was an extraordinary man without a bad thought in his mind about any individual. He was a politician and parliamentarian first and foremost. He had respect for all political parties and for politics. When parliamentarians attacked one another he would call a halt and say we were only dragging ourselves down and that we should not lose respect for ourselves.

Even within Fianna Fáil, he was a man for peace, who would try to bridge gaps. When he lost his Dáil seat, and later the presidential election, he took it on the chin, bounced back and got on with the day's work and running the country.

Late in my life, I learned about the image he created in Europe and the United States. When I became chairman of the emigration group in Fianna Fáil, I worked in Washington. Brian Lenihan had so many contacts on Capitol Hill that every door was open to him. He helped me enormously by introducing me to many American politicians. He could pick up a telephone and deal with these people. On that note I must mention the work he did behind the scenes, not alone for the illegal emigrants in the United States, but on all the other issues, like the peace process.

I could go on and on about the man. I could talk about his political experience, the way he operated, the way he thought and the way he felt about the people. He put his country above everything. He was a parliamentarian through and through.

Brian's final rally during the presidential election was in Kerry. The response he got in every town and village in north Kerry, particularly when he arrived in his own town of Tralee, the thousands of people who came out to meet and touch him, and the respect they had for him, woke another emotion in me.

He also had many achievements on the sporting field. He was an extraordinary man. This country will be saddened by the loss of Brian. I extend my sympathy to his family, particularly his wife and children, and his sister, Mary, who serves in the other House.

Mr. Neville

I join in the tributes to Brian Lenihan. It is a mark of the love and respect for him that these tributes have now gone on for two hours. Brian Lenihan was a man of enormous ability and generosity. He had a great sense of service both to the country, his party and, especially, the people. He was above all a most friendly man who had time for everybody. I extend my sympathy to his wife and family and to his brother and sister.

Mr. Mooney

I have come from a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs where we paid tribute to the late Mr. Lenihan as the first chairman of that committee and, of course, as chairman of the United Nations subcommittee, where I had the privilege of serving under him in the last few months.

As a Leitrim man, I remember the late Brian Lenihan as having represented the constituency of Roscommon-Leitrim prior to his relocation to Dublin West. I want to echo all that has been said here. Any words of mine cannot enhance or embellish what has been said with meaning, deep conviction and emotion by those who worked with Brian over the years. Suffice to say that I express my sincere sympathy to his wife, Ann, and family and, of course, to our Deputy Leader, Mary O'Rourke. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

An Cathaoirleach

The House will now stand in silent tribute for one minute.

Members rose in their places.

The Seanad adjourned at 7 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 2 November 1995.