Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am humbled to get to say a few words about Michael O'Regan. First of all, I want to pass my condolences to his family and, indeed, to all of his friends and colleagues and all the people who admired him for almost 30 years on Kerry radio.

In the past few nights, I have been around different parts of the county and everyone is so saddened by his passing. He was a giant among journalists. His interpretation and analysis of what was going on politically was listened to and adhered to because people believed in him. He was honest. He had his homework done.

He had amassed a vast amount of political knowledge going back to the foundation of the State. He knew where everyone came from and what they started out in. He knew where the political clout really lies at all times. He knew, as he used to say, "the corridors of power" and he always reported what was going on there. This world will be a lesser place for his departure.

I, too, want to acknowledge his visit to Kilgarvan on the death of my father because he was there for the three days. We looked up to him before that, but we are looking up to him since and we will be looking up to him forever.

As has been said, he may be gone but his voice will live on. As I say, he was one of the best Kerrymen who ever came out of Kerry. We are so proud of him. We are so proud to have known him. We thank him for the massive amount of work that he put in in amassing the knowledge that he had about political life in Kerry and in Ireland, and maybe far beyond.

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