Cross-party tributes to Lenihan followed by a minute's silence

TRIBUTES TO the late Brian Lenihan were followed by a minute’s silence.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would like to think Mr Lenihan would be remembered as a politician who made a contribution and constantly strove to bring out the best in politics.

“The openness and courage with which he explained what his medical problem was, and how he intended to cope with it, was a revelation,” he added.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Mr Lenihan was a politician with few peers and a man in his prime, which made his passing all the more distressing.

He quoted W B Yeats: Soldier, scholar, horseman, he,/As ’twere all life’s epitome./ What made us dream that he could comb grey hair?

He added: “We all would have liked to have seen Brian get the chance to age with dignity and to live a much longer life.”

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said Mr Lenihan was happiest in ministerial service in the period after the became minister for justice. “It was a personal joy for him to achieve that, particularly as his late father had been minister for justice.

“He was always tremendously conscious of his responsibilities in terms of the Lenihan dynasty and of achieving things that would have made his father proud.”

Ms Burton said Mr Lenihan had been immensely brave about his illness and, by doing so, gave so much hope to other people afflicted by serious illness.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said that throughout his illness, he had been an articulate and able advocate for the then government and its policies.

“Brian was a talented and gifted politician who worked diligently on behalf of his constituents and party.”

He said that irrespective of political differences, Mr Lenihan had been liked by all sides, by friends and political opponents alike.

“Perhaps there is no greater legacy than that.”

Mattie McGrath (Independent) said he was a true patriot.

“With his love of country and family and his commitment to his party, he was able to transcend all political views and ideologies,” he added.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said Mr Lenihan had been a very good constituency colleague in Dublin West.

“He was always willing to share information and listen to suggestions,” Mr Varadkar added, “and his first instinct when a problem was presented was to try to solve it rather than rush to the media or the barricades.”

Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) said he had clashed sharply with Mr Lenihan on political issues, with the differences growing wide as a chasm.

“Cancer is an awful disease,” he added. “Those of us, and we are very many throughout this country, who have had friends and family claimed by it at untimely ages of their lives, know the anguish of Brian Lenihan’s loved ones.”

Michael Healy-Rae (Ind) said his father, former TD Jackie Healy-Rae, was most anxious to ensure that he expressed sympathy on Mr Lenihan’s sad passing.