Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I echo the remarks of my colleague, Senator Ó Murchú, in thanking the Leader for facilitating these expressions of sympathy to the late Mickey Doherty. I am one of the few current Members who had the pleasure of serving in the House with him, which is an admission of my own advancing years. What I always remember about him, whether it was inside or outside the House, was the twinkle in his eye and his understated personality. It was deceptive and people who did not know him - and Senator Whelan summed it up well having observed him, as a journalist, at various meetings - underestimated Mickey's intelligence and awareness of politics at their peril. That was a great quality of his. He was the archetypal local politician who fitted easily into national politics during the time he was in the House.

Senator Whelan was correct about him not engaging with the media in a negative way. In fact, Mickey had a very positive relationship with the media. There are few people who could have had Miriam Lord eating out of their hands - I mean that in a literal sense. They enjoyed each other. A story was told here on a previous occasion about a comment that Mickey made to Miriam - I think it was Miriam, but certainly she was present - while they were waiting for Albert to appear at a count in Longford. The journalists were becoming very agitated because they needed to file their copy, but Albert, who was Taoiseach at the time, had not turned up. Mickey had gone to his house and Albert had said he was not going to go the count until later, so Mickey had to create some sort of diversion to placate the journalists, and he said that Albert was dealing with serious financial matters. I understand the fallout from those comments affected the value of the Irish pound, and Mickey enjoyed that. He would not have seen it as being something horrendous or awful that he should hide away from. He actually enjoyed it.

I remember Mickey as a happy, well-balanced individual with a twinkle in his eye. The best way of describing him is as a latter-day ward boss. He had a political antenna that was unrivalled. He and Albert worked extremely closely together, and it was a fitting tribute that Albert was chief mourner at the funeral. I know he will miss him greatly. We all miss Mickey greatly, and I echo the expressions of sympathy to Maura, his niece, and to Séamus, who are with us. I am so pleased they are here. I know the Fianna Fáil Deputy for Longford-Westmeath, Deputy Troy, was instrumental in arranging for these expressions of sympathy to be held. He is also present in the Chamber. Deputy Troy would have enjoyed Mickey - not that he needs any help in his political advancement - because he loved politics above everything else. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.