It is with regret that I have learned of the passing of my former constituency colleague, Albert Reynolds.

While his abiding legacy will be the Downing Street Declaration, which was one of the critical steps in securing peace on this island, he will also be the Taoiseach who introduced brevity to Irish politics with his “one page” policy.
He was a rare politician who was prepared to risk his political career to do what was right. It was this attribute which lead to his many successes in both ministerial office & his terms as Taoiseach.

While only personally knowing Albert in his final years in Dáil Éireann, I always found him to be good humoured with a jovial glint in his eye.

I wish to express my sincere sympathy to his wife Kathleen, his family, the people of Longford and his neighbours in Rooskey where he grew up.