Most influential of Irish civil servants who had 'exceptional talents'

Dermot Nally:DERMOT NALLY, who has died aged 82, was one of the most influential Irish civil servants of the last century, acting as secretary to the government from 1980 to 1993. Having participated in the talks preceding the Sunningdale Agreement, he led officials in the negotiations leading up to the Anglo-Irish Agreement and was also involved in drafting the Downing Street Declaration of 1993.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen this week said that “taoisigh, ministers and official colleagues alike had a high regard for his acumen and advice”. Former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald described him as “an outstanding civil servant with exceptional talents, ideally suited to that key role in our public administration”.

Dermot Nally was, in a way, bred for the job. He was born in Dublin in 1927, the son of the secretary of the department of lands. Educated at Synge Street Christian Brothers school and Belvedere College, he won a science scholarship to University College Dublin. However, a serious leg injury due to his passion for hiking cut short his studies. He later graduated with first-class honours in English language and literature in London University, entitling him to one of three studentships. He had an MA from that university.

Following a brief stint with the ESB, he joined the Office of Public Works in 1947. He was in 1952 promoted to the Department of Local Government, where he remained for 21 years. A former colleague in that department recalled he had “seldom come across a man of his quality”, and that he had drafted the complex 1966 Housing Consolidation Act almost single-handedly.

In 1973 he was appointed assistant secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach. He reported directly to Jack Lynch on the European Economic Community, Northern Ireland and other issues that came before the government. He attended every EEC summit, bar one, while serving under five taoisigh in 10 different governments.

Northern Ireland was an important part of his brief, and in response to the idea of an “independent Ulster”, which was being advocated in 1975, he wrote a memorandum to then taoiseach Liam Cosgrave. He warned that the likely prelude to the establishment of such a state would be so horrific that “we should, on no account, give any support or engage in any open analysis or discussion on the subject”.

Dermot Nally’s proudest achievement in the public service was his role in the negotiations with British counterpart Sir Robert Armstrong and the British and Irish teams on the Anglo-Irish Agreement. He is credited with writing the final draft of Article I(a) of the agreement, where it is conceded, for the first time in Irish history, that “any change in the status of Northern Ireland would only come about with the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland”. There was intense discussion about the use of the word “would” instead of “could” which in Irish terms was recognition of the political reality.

While the agreement was Garret FitzGerald’s political achievement, Dermot Nally contributed enormously by framing a form of words which politically, constitutionally and legally stood the test of time.

He enjoyed a good relationship with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. He was there with her, as taoisigh came and went, at all her meetings with Irish leaders from the time she came to office in 1979.

A nationalist, Dermot Nally was a pragmatist in relation to Northern Ireland. He believed it was inevitable that Ireland would eventually be united. In his view geography, economics and history would provide the momentum, so long as the pace was not forced.

Responsible for recording the minutes of government decisions, he lacked shorthand but wrote them in perfect handwriting. He was renowned for his meticulous records, and jokes about “Nally’s notebooks” abound.

On a personal level, he was regarded by colleagues and politicians as “likeable, very honest and straight”, while at work he was seen by some as “austere and reserved”.

Nevertheless, he was given credit by Civil Service colleagues for the independent manner in which he chaired the Top Level Appointment Commission.

A firm believer in Cabinet confidentiality, he believed the State would be ungovernable without it.

After he retired, he was retained on a consultancy basis by then taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and was one of the team of four who worked on the draft of the Downing Street Declaration.

In 1996, following the murder of Veronica Guerin, he was appointed to the special steering group set up to review the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Garda Síochána. The group’s report in 1997 proposed a range of tough anti-crime measures.

In 1998 he was appointed to chair a study group to review the public prosecution system.

He was named in 2002 as head of a three-man group established by the government to investigate allegations the Garda failed to pass on information to the RUC that could have prevented the Omagh bombing. The Nally report concluded the charges levelled by a Donegal-based detective sergeant did not stand up to scrutiny.

He served as a member of the Constitution review group and was a former president of the Institute of Public Administration. An honorary degree was conferred on him by Trinity College Dublin in 1994.

A keen golfer, he played at Lahinch and Milltown. Other interests included gardening, reading and music.

He is survived by his wife Joan, son Brian, daughters Ailbhe, Maura, Sheila and Caitriona.

Dermot Nally: born December 10th, 1927; died December 30th, 2009