History will judge former leader in a positive light, says Ahern

Taoiseach's reaction: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said last night that he would always remember Charles Haughey as a "kind person…

Taoiseach's reaction: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said last night that he would always remember Charles Haughey as a "kind person" whose immense achievements would ensure history judged him in a positive light.

Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings, Mr Ahern said that as with all lives people had to take a balanced view when judging Mr Haughey. It was necessary to look at Mr Haughey's "immense achievements" over a political career of 35 years.

These included "the extraordinary amount of legislation he got through, the new organisations, the new agencies, the imaginative thinking".

He was responsible for the first codification of the laws of Tort, the Succession Act which was "a revolution for women's rights", the setting up of Aosdána, the changes in the Finance Act benefiting the artistic community, and what he did as minister for agriculture in the 1960s in relation to farmers moving from protectionism to free trade.

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He noted Mr Haughey's responsibility for the refurbishment of Government Buildings - "demonised as he was for it like so many other things, but now everyone says how wonderful it is". He drove the revitalisation of the Royal Hospital, when there was also major controversy over its cost, and the building of the International Financial Services Centre. He also saved Temple Bar from being demolished and instead created what was "now one of the liveliest spots in Europe where young and not so young gather".

Mr Ahern added: "He did things, he achieved things. Okay, maybe there were a few blips along the way but that's life . . . Those who were against him will highlight the negatives. I'll highlight the positives, but in any balanced assessment of 35 years in history it will come out good."

In relation to Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern said that when Mr Haughey first became taoiseach, it was difficult period to achieve anything. But in 1988 he had started the dialogue conducted through Fr Alex Reid which led to the bringing of Sinn Féin into the political process.

Mr Haughey's number one issue had been social partnership. "This was the one that changed the country, gave the country a chance to really move forward, where people were working together, first of all to correct the financial position in the Programme for National Recovery, and he was immensely proud of the first meeting with the Ictu", which led towards changing the country from one of high unemployment and emigration to what it is today.

He said he had always gone to see Mr Haughey in Kinsealy for a long meeting at Christmas, and last Christmas Eve was the last time he had met him. He had received a letter from him recently, shortly after Fianna Fáil's 80th anniversary celebrations.

"I will always remember him as a very kind person to deal with. My kids love him. Both of them hugely admired him, he gave them a lot of time when they were small. Georgina was on the island when she was only three months to the day and he always called her the island baby, even to this day."

He said he had made some of the toughest speeches against Mr Haughey: "We hit some of that very hard. I just had to hope he understood my position. We never got into too much detail on any of that. I just thought he had to respect what I had to do and what I had to say."

He said Mr Haughey had never once asked him to do anything inappropriate.

"I worked with him closely for a long time through all his period as taoiseach, to do anything from an organisational level, a departmental level, a Government level, that in any way breached any probity or any regulation . . . never once was I asked to go out and say or do or insinuate anything that wasn't to the highest standards."

Statement: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

"I have learned with great sadness of the death today of the former taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, Mr Charles Haughey. It is a very sad occasion, and marks the passing of an era.

On behalf of the Government and Fianna Fáil, I wish to convey our deepest sympathies to his wife Maureen, his daughter Éimear, and his sons, Conor, Ciarán and Seán, as well as his wider family.

Charles Haughey made a huge impact on Irish life over a 35-year political career spanning from the late 1950s. He served with distinction in every ministerial position that he held, and his many imaginative initiatives are remembered. He brought in most of the free schemes for the elderly, as well as generous pension increases between 1980 and 1982.

During his last five years as taoiseach he gave tremendous leadership to a programme of national recovery involving the social partners. He established a very fruitful relationship with the then president of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Delors, and ran a very successful Irish presidency of the European Union in 1990, immediately following the peaceful revolutions in Eastern and Central Europe. He also established some of the initial contacts that laid the foundations of the current peace process.

There are many other initiatives which he supported, for which he will be gratefully remembered; the Succession Act; the tax free status and pensions for artists; the promotion of a flourishing bloodstock industry; the network of regional airports; Temple Bar; the International Financial Services Centre; and the restoration of the Shannon-Erne Waterway; to name but a few. He had an immense ability to get things done and he inspired great loyalty amongst many of his followers both inside and outside Fianna Fáil.

In recent times, these achievements have become clouded by the revelations that are the subject of inquiry by the Moriarty tribunal. History will have to weigh up both the credit and the debit side more dispassionately than may be possible today but, I have no doubt its ultimate judgment on Mr Haughey will be a positive one.

Over a long period now, Charles Haughey has faced one final battle, which he knew ultimately, he had to lose. He bore his illness with great dignity and fortitude, his fighting spirit evident to the end."

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.