EMOTIONAL TRIBUTES were paid in the Dáil to long-serving TD and former Cabinet minister Séamus Brennan, who died early yesterday morning.
As the tricolour flew at half mast over Leinster House, the Dáil stood for a minute's silence in his memory.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Mr Brennan had made a "massive contribution to our country" and "will be remembered as a brilliant political strategist, a dedicated constituency deputy, a reforming minister and a very popular colleague. He will be hugely missed." Mr Cowen recalled that "even though he was battling a serious illness, his enthusiasm, commitment and innate courtesy were such that he joined me and other colleagues on the hustings in south Dublin" for the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
"I remember a brave and courageous man, exchanging words of encouragement upon my arrival and, subsequently, the parting words, firm handshake and the inevitable smile that sought to reassure that all would be well." The Taoiseach said that as general secretary "his efforts in revitalising the Fianna Fáil organisation, alongside his genius for electoral politics, played a significant part in ensuring a landslide victory for the party in the general election of 1977".
He extended his "deepest sympathy to Séamus's family, especially his wife, Ann, and his children, Shay, Daire, Aoife, Síne, Breffni and Éanna, as well as his wider family and wide circle of friends".
And in an emotional final comment, he said in Irish: "Braon de dhrúcht na bhflaitheas agus deoch de thobar na ngrásta, go mbeannaí Dia d'anam a Shéamuis" (A drop of the dew of Heaven and a drink from the well of grace - May God bless your soul, Séamus).
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said "he brought about a marked change in the way political parties did their business. He was the first in the country to bring a sense of analysis to political polls and electoral trends that came from the United States, and changed forever the way political parties operated here."
He added: "I shall miss him as an acquaintance, a friend and a political colleague." He recalled meeting him shortly after Christmas. "He said to me: 'I've had a tough battle. I'm not sure whether I can weather this storm or not.' He has gone and politics is the poorer for his passing."
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said: "Séamus Brennan was a rare political phenomenon - a politician of strong convictions, effective for his party and quietly partisan, yet an extremely likeable person. He managed to conduct his political business effectively but without rancour or animus, which is the way all of us will remember him." Minister for the Environment John Gormley described him as "a model of wisdom, courtesy, calmness, total reliability and modesty", who played "the pivotal role in the formation of this Government".
"Throughout my time in the Opposition, he always made a point of saying to me: 'Whatever you do, do not close any doors.' He repeated that over and over again. Eventually the message got through and we did not close any doors.
"We ended up in Government Buildings and Séamus Brennan greeted the Green Party team with the immortal words: 'You are playing senior hurling now lads, but you are playing with lads with All-Ireland medals'."
Representing Sinn Féin, Martin Ferris recalled having "the privilege of being with him in Boston in 2004, when we addressed a number of meetings on the Northern peace process". Throughout that day, he was courteous and generous and "I thought he was about to look for an application form to join Sinn Féin. He left a striking presence in my mind from that day on." Minister for Health Mary Harney said: "Séamus was the consummate politician" who "served in six different departments, and he used his great intelligence and his spirit of innovation in each of them".
She had known him "for all my political career. He was very encouraging to me in my early years when I joined a political party", and "his political judgment was incredible". Ms Harney added: "He was totally loyal to the Fianna Fáil party. I should know as I tried to get him to leave. He was completely committed to his party in every sense."
