Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

On my behalf and that of my party, I wish to pay personal tribute to the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, as he prepares to step down from his office. It is personal because I wish to recount some simple recollections. While the Taoiseach may not remember some of them, I first saw him in the Phoenix Park at a road bowling event some time in the early 1980s. A tribe from Armagh had come down, together with a tribe from Cork and they went around the Phoenix Park, which was rather unexpected and worth seeing. The Taoiseach was there, bowling, and adding to the occasion. Your hair had not seen a comb for a month and your anorak — to use the correct technical term — was askew. However, there was a glint in your eye. A man was standing 100 yards in front of you who, in proper west Cork west of the road fashion, was saying "Knock me down between my two stockinged feet". The Taoiseach was there with a glint in his eye that was pure west Cork, where his people came from. This is an image I remember.

I encountered the Ahern brothers, Noel and Maurice, on Dublin City Council and it was interesting to hear you talking about your days on that city council recently. You spoke of the excitement that often would attend to that chamber in the presence of the media and the public, who were fascinated by the latest developments and decisions. Some of the disagreements we had in respect of views on planning or transport may have been maddening. However, it must be recognised that in any chamber, it is the commitment to one's constituents that must be recognised, regardless of one's political persuasion. The Taoiseach has shown such commitment over those 30 years, beginning with, and presumably learned, during that time on Dublin City Council. That is something he has consistently retained.

I attended an event in the National Gallery at which he gave a speech on the political book being launched. He started his speech by citing every single councillor in the room, a trick with which I was very impressed. He had someone check who was present and he mentioned each of them. He has acted similarly in most of the events he attended as Taoiseach over the past 11 years and the Irish people have noticed and liked that willingness to engage. This practice gives rise to difficulties for Opposition Deputies. I once attended an event with the Taoiseach to launch a sponsorship drive at the Kilmacud Crokes and he approached me afterwards in the way that journalists have recorded, put his hand on my elbow and asked: "How is the hardworking man?" I was thrown by that. I thought to myself, the Taoiseach thinks I am a hardworking man. That is a hell of a trick.

When I sat on the bench on which Deputy Durkan currently sits, I tried to catch the Taoiseach out in questions or on the Order of Business. It was not easy to do so under the former Ceann Comhairle but we did our best. Afterwards, I would review the detail of every word that was uttered and think, God damn it, he had the details. That characterised his work as Taoiseach and, I am sure, as Minister. He is a hardworking politician and he uses that hard work to get to grips with the details.

I wish to characterise the Taoiseach's clearest and main legacy. I speak as a member of a party which prides itself on having consensus politics as our foundation and roots. He was good at consensus politics and skilful in applying them to the historic issue we faced on this island in terms of sovereignty. He applied consensus politics to Europe like no other European politician has managed to do. Nobody else has had the same success in pulling people together. I have seen him in action during the 11 months I have been in government and it is interesting to see how he works. Sometimes an issue comes to a head and we do not agree on it or think it will work. He would approach it, let it back out and give it some time before returning to it so that people have the chance to work through words and see if a consensus decision can be found. That significant legacy will be left behind him.

He was also fortunate to be Taoiseach for 11 remarkable years of prosperity and success unlike anything we experienced in the past. There is a collective sense in this country that we want to hold on to that good fortune and a fear that if the Taoiseach leaves us, some of the fortune will also depart. I hope he will leave it behind. He should touch his wooden desk as he departs and leave that good fortune for the Irish people. In whatever new role he takes on, everyone here wishes him good fortune in deploying his hardworking, consensual and people skills.

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