Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former taoiseach Bertie Ahern today paid tribute to Fianna Fáil Senator Tony Kett, who died after a long illness.
Mr Kett (57) was a long-time friend of Mr Ahern having helped with all of Mr Ahern’s election campaigns. He had worked for the party for almost 40 years.
“Tony Kett was a decent and hardworking public representative,” the former taoiseach said.
“He was one of this country’s most astute political minds. I am also privileged to say he was one of my closest friends and I will miss him greatly.”
Mr Cowen said Mr Kett was an “experienced, valued and extremely popular member of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party.
“At local and national level, he has given long and dedicated service to our party, his community and to Ireland over many years.”
He first came to prominence in the Fianna Fáil constituency organisation in Dublin Central and helped establish the constituency organisation there.
He entered representative politics in 1988 when he was co-opted onto Dublin City Council. In 1997 he was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel. He was re-elected on each subsequent occasion.
Mr Ahern said he first came to know Mr Kett when the pair worked in the Mater Hospital in the mid-1970s.