TRIBUTES PAID to the late Séamus Brennan in the Dáil by all parties painted the picture of a diligent minister and politician who was mild mannered and courteous to his colleagues and deeply committed to Fianna Fáil.
But he was more than that. In a career spanning nearly 40 years, this reforming and liberal individual served in 10 government departments and played a central role in shaping the evolution of Irish politics.
Mr Brennan endured torrid times in Fianna Fáil. Personally chosen as party general secretary by Jack Lynch in the aftermath of the Arms Trial, he revamped the organisation and brought a flavour of US razzmatazz to the general election campaign of 1977 when the party won its largest-ever victory. He was rewarded with a Seanad seat. But his support for George Colley in the leadership race against Charles Haughey eventually cost him the position of general secretary. His courageous involvement in a succession of "heaves" against the leadership of Mr Haughey, culminating in the formation of the Progressive Democrats in 1985, will be remembered by many people.
In spite of a close friendship with Des O'Malley and Mary Harney, he opted to remain within Fianna Fáil. He decided, as he then said, "let the hare sit". Some years later, Mr O'Malley and Mr Brennan were called upon to negotiate the terms of Fianna Fáil's first programme for government with the Progressive Democrats. And it was as minister for tourism and transport in that government that Mr Brennan introduced a two-airline policy and provided Ryanair with the space and opportunity to grow.
Mr Brennan's forte was as a negotiator and facilitator. He played the role of midwife and nurse to three minority Fianna Fáil-led governments. As a liberal reformer, he depended on cabinet support to get his ideas adopted. That wasn't always forthcoming, particularly under the leadership of Bertie Ahern when powerful sectional interests were involved. He was moved from the Department of Transport in 2004 because of trade union pressure. His efforts in the Department of Social and Family Affairs to introduce long-needed pension improvements have still not come to fruition. But children born outside marriage have benefited from reforms that provide welfare payments for single mothers where the father is living at home. Mr Brennan never settled comfortably for civil service advice and the status quo. He brought innovative ideas to his ministries. He was a decent man and he will be missed.