Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Taoiseach and as a colleague of the former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil Deputy, Albert Reynolds, I wish to express my sincere condolences to his wife, Kathleen, his children, Miriam, Philip, Emer, Leonie, Abbie, Cathy and Andrea, and to his grandchildren and extended family. While his passing is a major personal loss his achievements and dedication to public service to his former constituency of Longford-Westmeath and the entire island of Ireland are outstanding. The wide range of ministerial portfolios assigned to him throughout his early political career prepared him well for his role as Taoiseach in the early 1990s. When he came to office he was not fazed by the complex challenges that confronted his Government and he proved an able negotiator at home and in Europe in getting the best outcome for our people.

Albert Reynolds's role in the peace process was significant indeed. From the outset he was passionate about peace. A difficult often frustrating road lay ahead but he stayed the course and, through agreement and consent with his counterparts, he found an alternative route to bring an end to the bloodshed and violence that marred community life in Northern Ireland for a generation.

He was well known for finding ways to bring people together, whether in the dance halls of rural Ireland, through music or even by connecting them with new telephone networks. Connecting people, bringing people together was his way of doing things. He showed just how vital this was in the peace process as he brought the diverse strands of political opinions together in a way that had never been done before. While he built on the work of his predecessors, he was singular in attaining what had eluded so many before him. Reflecting today on his legacy, we can truly say that his vision, dogged determination, negotiation skills and courage were pivotal in laying the foundations of lasting peace and the Good Friday Agreement.

Before entering politics Albert Reynolds was a businessman of dedication and drive, the very qualities that had helped foster the social and economic climate for our country. Throughout his life, he demonstrated a great love for life, people, his wife and family, his home place of Roosky, Longford-Westmeath and Dublin as well as for enterprise, fairness and peace. His primary focus was always his wife and family. This is what made Albert Reynolds the public servant that he was.

Some days after he passed away we marked the 20th anniversary of the IRA ceasefire. While he was not there to witness it, in their grief and sorrow Kathleen and the Reynolds family can take comfort and tremendous pride in what he achieved with their support. He was indeed a man of peace. History in due course will recognise the part he played in the development of our State. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

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