A unique politician held in high regard by all

In the space of just a few weeks, Ireland has lost two of its most respected figures in political life. Former Taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald was the very personification of integrity and intellect, and tragically at the early age of just 52, former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, too, was the embodiment of honesty and probity, the values every voter wants to see in the politicians they elect. Both of these men's passing should give pause for reflection about the calibre of those who seek to serve the State. Mr Lenihan, like Dr FitzGerald, exemplified all that is good about those who seek public office. There has been a huge outpouring of sympathy for the former Fianna Fail TD and minister from friends and foes alike following his untimely death. It is not unique for people to say positive things about politicians when they die, but what is unusual is the fact that they were just as likely to say the same things about the man when he was alive. Mr Lenihan found himself in the very unfortunate position of having to deal with Ireland's struggle to avoid national bankruptcy and the collapse of its banks at the same time as he was handed a diagnosis which turned out to be terminal cancer. The ill fortune of becoming Minister for Finance in mid-2008, as Ireland's once booming Celtic Tiger economy descended into a catastrophic banking and property-led bust, was matched only by his own misfortune in contracting a disease from which there was to be no return. Lauded as a man of professional commitment and personal integrity, his selfless determination to do his duty in spite of a serious illness was, indeed, remarkable and inspirational. His was truly a profile in courage as he was forced to confront challenges, the scale and gravity of which were unprecedented in the history of the country. But in spite of his illness, he faced up to those challenges with extraordinary dignity and bravery. Even though he more than likely knew his personal battle with a killer disease was not going to be one which he would win, he courageously continued to fully perform his ministerial responsibilities in the darkest and most challenging circumstances. The manner in which he was determined not to allow his illness take over his life and insisted on throwing himself wholeheartedly into trying to get to grips with the unfolding economic crisis endeared him to many who would not necessarily agree with his politics, but who nevertheless held him in great regard for the manner in which he did so. His death is truly an enormous loss to Irish public life. It took remarkable courage to battle his illness in the full glare of the television cameras at the same time as vowing not to neglect any of the arduous political duties thrust upon him at one of the most difficult times in Irish history. Such selflessness while making a major contribution to Irish life will probably only be appreciated fully when it comes time to write the history of this dramatic period in Irish history. The thousands of people who have queued over the last few days to sign books of condolences for the late Mr Lenihan and to express their sadness at his passing and to leave messages and tributes to a man who commanded the respect of people across the political divide, and particularly the manner in which he bore his final illness, says as much about the man as the tens of thousands of words that have been spoken or written in tribute to the former finance minister from political peers and commentators throughout Europe and beyond. Only a few months into his new job in 2008, and faced with the imminent collapse of Anglo Irish Bank and the prospect that several other domestic banks could follow suit, he controversially responded with a blanket guarantee of the domestic banks that hitched their debts to that of the State. It was, he declared at the time, the only option to stop the entire banking system collapsing, but subsequent investigations found huge property-based toxic debts in all six banks - and taxpayers found themselves on the hook for repaying the tens of billions owed to bondholders who had loaned the banks cheap money while the good times rolled. In spite of the decisions he took while in the Dept of Finance and the consequences that flowed from those decisions, he remained a respected figure in the largely discredited Fianna Fail party which was wiped out in this year's general election. That popularity and the respect in which he was held ensured he became the only FF candidate elected in Dublin, albeit for only a short time as his illness took its toll on his energy and vitality.