Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an méid atá ráite ar son Mickey Doherty. Mickey was both an institution and a character. As Senator Mooney said, one underestimated him at one's peril. He portrayed a very understated ability, but his astuteness in politics was certainly noted in his local area. Reference has been made to his close friendship over the years with the former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds. It is probably fair to say that Albert Reynolds might never have entered politics, and certainly might never have graced these Houses, but for Mickey Doherty. I think Albert Reynolds himself would concede that. It was unheard of in 1977 to do as Mickey Doherty did when, as a prominent Fianna Fáil member and councillor in the area, he decided to support Albert Reynolds as a candidate against a sitting TD. If that happens, generally it is the person him or herself challenging a TD rather than promoting somebody else. It showed a selflessness about the man. He was interested in and totally committed to the party and to Longford, and he obviously saw the potential in Albert Reynolds. That in itself would have created a tremendous bond between them and a great sense of gratitude, which I know the former Taoiseach always felt towards Mickey. However, there was also a great personal bond between them.

I recall an evening some time after the general election in 1989 when Albert Reynolds pulled up in his car outside my house with Mickey Doherty sitting in the back seat. He wanted to know whether I would mind accompanying them around Wexford so that Mickey could canvass all the councillors. It was coming up to teatime and he felt that with a bit of help they could get around that night, which he did. I was regaled with stories throughout the night as we went for cups of tea in the various houses. I would have known the former Taoiseach and although I did not know Mickey terribly well, I really got to know him that night. He was a most unassuming, genuine and very witty and funny man, as the Leader said.

Mickey Doherty certainly made his mark on Fianna Fáil and the health boards, but also on the country. I recall that after Albert Reynolds was elected Taoiseach he identified his two priorities as trying to achieve peace in Northern Ireland and tackling unemployment. Many people thought he was setting himself up for a huge fall because these objectives did not seem achievable at the time. He worked hard on it and Mickey worked closely with him in that period and it was interesting to hear Senator Mooney's story about the count where it caused a run on the punt. It was a case of Mickey covering for Albert who, after a long election campaign, needed relaxation and perhaps a few extra hours in bed. Mickey felt that was not a good image for the Taoiseach to portray so he came up with this great excuse but when it went on the airwaves, everyone thought the punt was under pressure and it led to a bit of a run on it. As Senator Mooney said, Mickey would have seen that as normal in the course of politics. He treated national politics like local politics, and if we all reflect on it, there is very little difference.

He is a man who made his mark, a genuine man, and I was proud and pleased to get to know him after that excursion around the roads of Wexford in 1989. Like Senator Bradford, I was unaware of his death until we resumed after Christmas and I extend my sympathies to Maura and Séamus and other members of his family. Ar dheis Dé agus i measc na n-aingeal agus na naomh go raibh a anam dílis.