Séamus Brennan (1948-2008)

Former Fianna Fáil Minister Séamus Brennan died at his home in Churchtown in Dublin in the early hours last Wednesday after a long illness.

Séamus Brennan was born on February 16, 1948, in Galway.

Even before studying Economics and Commerce at University College Galway and University College Dublin, he had discovered an interest in politics in his teens, canvassing for Fianna Fáil during elections.

In 1973 he succeeded Tommy Mullins as General Secretary of Fianna Fáil and began to revamp the party structure, setting up a national executive and applying new techniques based on his observations of the US Presidential Election in 1976, such as marketing strategies and opinion polls, in the 1977 general election.

This resulted in the biggest ever parliamentary majority for any party with Fianna Fáil and Jack Lynch returned to power with a 20-seat majority. Brennan's reward for his hard work and foresight was an appointment to Seanad Éireann.

In 1979 he supported George Colley in the Fianna Fáil leadership contest, after the retirement of Jack Lynch. However, Charles Haughey was narrowly elected and a new Secretary General of the party was appointed.

In 1981 Brennan was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Dublin South constituency and has been returned at every election since.

In the early 1980s he was a prominent member of the Gang of 22 who tried unsuccessfully to wrestle control of the Fianna Fáil party from Haughey.

In 1987 Haughey and Fianna Fáil were back in power and Brennan was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Marketing.

In 1989 he became a full Cabinet Minister when he was appointed Minister for Tourism and Transport.

In 1991 his brief was widened when the Communications portfolio came under his control.

In 1992 Albert Reynolds succeeded Haughey as Taoiseach. Brennan was one of the few ministers in Haughey's Cabinet who remained in Reynolds' new government as Minister for Education.

In 1995 Fianna Fáil were in opposition and the new party leader, Bertie Ahern designated Brennan as Opposition spokesperson for Transport, Energy and Communications.

In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Brennan became Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Defence.

He became the Minister for Transport in 2002.

In the cabinet reshuffle of September 2004, Brennan was moved to the post of Minister for Social and Family Affairs. He was said to be bitterly disappointed but he refused to describe it as a demotion.

After the 2007 general election, he played a key role in the negotiations with the Green Party, which led to the formation of the current Government.

He did not seek ministerial office in Brian Cowen's cabinet and tendered his resignation in May 2008, for medical reasons.

He is survived by his wife Ann, their two sons and four daughters. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Brennan would remembered as "a brilliant political strategist, a dedicated constituency TD, a reforming minister and a very popular colleague."