The late Mr Brian Lenihan and his age cohort played a central role in shaping modern Ireland and redefining Fianna Fail successfully for their generation, the Taoiseach said in Dublin last night.
Launching Lenihan, His Life and Loyalties by James Downey, Mr Ahern said his late colleague was competent, innovative, effective and genial. "He was universally liked and respected on all sides of the House. Who could not like this superb politician when he could talk himself out of any corner and bring a smile to the lips of even the most hard-hearted?"
Mr Ahern said that no matter what row occurred on the order of business, Brian Lenihan could come out of the chamber and talk about a match last weekend or something in Europe - then go back and carry on. "I can think of only a few people in 21 years in public life that could do that. He should have been on the stage - he would have earned more than on the stage of Dail Eireann."
Last night's audience included Mr Lenihan's immediate family - his widow Ann, his daughter Anita, his TD sons Brian and Conor, Niall from New York and Paul from France, his sister, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, and her sons Feargal and Aengus and his sister, Mrs Anne Walsh.
There was a big attendance from the world of politics - although the author said many were in Cork for the by-election. There last night were Government deputies Ms Marian McGennis and Mr Liam Lawlor, Senator Michael O'Kennedy, Fine Gael deputies Mr Austin Currie and Mr Louis Belton, and Mr Pat Rabbitte from Democratic Left.
The Taoiseach said Mr Lenihan had had many competencies and he never blew his own trumpet. What a magnificent record it was to have served under every Fianna Fail leader - and 24 years as a minister.