Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On behalf of the Labour Party I very much welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to Tony Gregory and to extend my sympathy and that of the Labour Party to his partner Annette Dolan, his brother Noel, and all his family and friends. Although we all knew that Tony was ill and admired the way he battled his illness with characteristic grit and determination it was still a great shock to learn of his death in the shadow of Christmas on 2 January last.

Tony Gregory was by any standards a remarkable public representative who left a lasting mark on the Dáil and on Irish politics in general. Only the most capable and resilient of politicians would be able to be elected as an Independent over eight separate general elections and serve more than 27 years continuously in this House while all the time defending and maintaining his status as an Independent.

Tony burst onto the national political scene with his election to the Dáil in 1982 but even at that stage he was well known and respected within the Dublin Central constituency having effectively represented the people of the north inner city on Dublin City Council. When we are first elected to the Dáil, most of us find coming into this House a fairly intimidating experience. Being elected for the first time as an Independent must be a particularly daunting experience but Tony Gregory never allowed himself to be overawed by the Dáil or its procedures. He showed remarkable political acumen in using the pivotal position in which he found himself in the aftermath of the 1982 general election to highlight the need of his constituents and the broader political constituency he served, and in demanding action to deal with their problems. I am sure all the taoisigh in waiting at that time thought they would have no difficulty in dealing with a political novice but instead, they found themselves outwitted, outfoxed and out negotiated. The deal provided for jobs and housing in his own constituency but it is sometimes overlooked that it was not just confined to meeting the needs of his constituents. Under the terms of the agreement, for example, 440 houses were to be built in his own constituency but another 1,600 were to be provided in the rest of Dublin. It was not Tony Gregory's fault that the political instability of that time led to much of the agreement he negotiated not being implemented as he would have wished.

However, he should be remembered for much more than the Gregory deal. He left a lasting impression on this House and was able and willing to contribute on a wide range of issues. He had an obvious love for the people he represented and the people of Dublin Central had an obvious love of him, as was evident by the very genuine and heartfelt expressions of grief we heard from the people of his constituency following his death.

One of the many things Tony will be remembered for is his battle against drugs and drug peddlers. Tony saw at first hand the pain and misery inflicted on the people of his own constituency by the drugs barons. He was one of the first political figures to recognise the extent of the emerging drugs problem during the 1980s and he showed remarkable courage and disregard for his own personal safety by being prepared to personally confront drug dealers. He also showed the extent of his commitment to his constituents when he was prepared to go to prison in 1986 because of his stance in defence of Dublin street traders, many of whom lived in his constituency.

Tony Gregory was a champion of the disadvantaged and, as the Taoiseach said, Tony drew his political inspiration from James Connolly. It was appropriate that he should go to his place of rest draped in Connolly's flag. He also drew much of his internationalism from Connolly's inspiration. Tony Gregory was a genuine internationalist who was always prepared to support the struggles of oppressed peoples abroad. I had the privilege of sharing a parliamentary visit to the West Bank a few years ago with him and he would have been outraged by what was happening in Gaza at the time he was laid to rest.

Bhí ghrá faoi leith ag Tony don Ghaeilge. Roimh a thréimhse mar Theachta Dála, ba mhúinteoir é i scoil lán-Ghaelach, scoil atá lonnaithe ina Dháilcheantar féin. Bhí sé suntasach, tar éis a bháis, gur chas mé ar an-chuid d'iar-scoláirí Tony a chur in iúl dom an meas mór a bhí acu ar Tony. Níl dabht ar bith ní hamháin gur Teachta thar barr ab ea Tony Gregory, ach gur sár-mhúinteoir ab ea é freisin. Níor chaill Tony a chuid Gaeilge tar éis dó an múinteoireacht a fhágáil. Bhain sé úsáid as an nGaeilge go minic sa Teach seo agus i ndíospóireachtaí ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís.

Tony Gregory was a unique figure in Irish politics over almost 30 years. We may never see his like again and that is a great loss for the people of Dublin Central, politics, our democratic system and, especially, for those who were closest to him personally and politically.

See this speech in context