BRIAN LENIHAN had a big presence in Irish public life, way beyond his few years in ministerial office. He inspired a genuine affection with people that crossed party politics and sectoral interests. Like his father before him, he was his own unique self: a Cambridge scholar, erudite, well-read, addicted to Fianna Fáil, a barrister, a great conversationalist, self-deprecating and such good fun.
He was a decent and honest politician who served his constituents and his country to the best of his abilities. His death at the early age of 52 is a great loss to his party and the body politic at large. But, on this sad day for his family and friends, it can truly be said that he lived a full and colourful life.
The political gene was in his blood. He entered the Dáil in 1996 having won the byelection in Dublin West caused by the death of his father, Brian Lenihan, who had served in a number of Fianna Fáil governments. His grandfather, Patrick Lenihan, had represented Longford-Westmeath; his aunt Mary O’Rourke served in three Cabinets while his brother, Conor, became a minister of state.
Brian Lenihan was passed over for promotion to Cabinet on a number of occasions by the then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Supported by Brian Cowen in the dying days of Mr Ahern’s leadership, he became minister for justice in 2007. When Mr Cowen became taoiseach within a year, he was given responsibility for the Department of Finance. The promotion was not entirely unexpected. Surrounded by ministerial colleagues and a taoiseach who were in denial about the depth of the economic downturn and collapsing government revenues, corrective fiscal action was delayed.
In September 2008, based on incomplete and misleading information, the government was bounced into guaranteeing all banking debts. A series of harsh budgets ensued as the government struggled to bring expenditure under control. Mr Lenihan’s prediction that “the worst is over” did not prove to pass.
Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which was publicised in an unedifying manner in the media. He continued as minister for finance as he underwent medical treatment. Unfortunately, as the government’s day-to-day finances were being corrected, assumed banking debts threatened to bankrupt the State. By November, 2010, despite ministerial denials, an IMF-EU bailout was required and Ireland forfeited its financial independence. Mr Lenihan spoke of it as a “terrible” time. The subsequent implosion of Fianna Fáil is well documented. He was the only party TD to retain a seat in Dublin.
Mr Lenihan had the misfortune to take charge of the Department of Finance at the time of the greatest economic crisis ever to confront the State. The political adrenalin kept him going up to and after the general election. He gave his account of those days to Dan O’Brien in his final interview only six weeks ago.
Apart from Fianna Fáil, he always made it known that the lights of his life were his wife, Patricia, and his children Tom and Clare.