There had been a lot of useless twittering in newspapers by people who were not full journalists and who had chosen to act out with high drama various episodes of what she would call the turbulent period of Seán Doherty's life, the leader of the House, Mary O'Rourke, said.
"They have their own reasons for doing that and it is quite apparent why they are doing it."
Ms O'Rourke led expressions of sympathy on the death of the former cathaoirleach of the Seanad. Describing Mr Doherty as an excellent chairman of the Oireachtas Public Enterprise and Transport Committee, in more recent years, she said she remembered him with great affection for that period of his life.
"He was a remarkable man because his sheer intelligence was not obvious to all commentators, and that is why I think so much, as I call it, useless twitterings are going on now about him by people who have a vested interest in so doing."
Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the Seanad, said while there had been much critical comment of the actions taken by Mr Doherty as minister for justice in the 1982 Haughey administration, it should be remembered it was a government that was out of control and simply to blame him was most unfair.
David Norris (Ind) said he and Mr Doherty had taken lumps out of each other during a high-profile row between them in the Seanad. "I felt that Mr Doherty was part of a kind of culture of gombeenery and I took certain actions. We fought it out and in that instance I was successful. But there was not one single bit of rancour or ill-feeling between Seán Doherty and myself."
Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) said Mr Doherty had unquestionably left his mark on Irish politics.
John Dardis (PD), deputy leader in the House, said Mr Doherty was the epitome in many ways of Kipling's The Man. He certainly was able to live up to the sentiments of the poet, if you can look at triumph and disaster and treat these two imposters just the same.
Paschal Mooney (FF) remarked on the significant amount of media coverage of Mr Doherty's passing and said in general people had, with one dishonourable exception, acknowledged the public contribution he had made.
Cathaoirleach Rory Kiely said that Mr Doherty had been an efficient, capable and effective cathaoirleach.
Members observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect.