Ahern: Gregory rivalry not personal
In Dáil statements to remember the late TD yesterday, Mr Ahern said their rivalry was a source of banter and fun over the years: “Throughout the 1980s, he was the guy without the tie and I was the fella in the anorak,” he said.
In his final interview before his death from cancer in early January, the independent TD said Mr Ahern never forgave him for the high profile he achieved from the famous Gregory Deal agreed with Charles Haughey to support the Government in 1982.
Mr Gregory said that the rivalry lasted more than 20 years because of the services he was able to secure from Mr Haughey in exchange for his support.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil yesterday he had great respect for his constituency opponent: “There was always much competition and rivalry between Tony and I and our respective supporters but that rivalry was never personal and I believe it benefited our constituents who gained from our eagerness to deliver for local residents,” he said.
Mr Ahern said the “determined work and strong commitment” of Mr Gregory played an important role in the economic and social history of Dublin city.
“That perhaps started with the Gregory Deal but it never ended for him. He continued to passionately argue for all of those actions he believed should be done,” said Mr Ahern.
Condolences were sent from the Cuban National Assembly with a letter read into the Dáil records by independent TD Finian McGrath conveying their “most sincere feelings of sadness and solidarity for his death.”
The Cuban Parliament said: “We will always remember Mr Gregory as a great friend of Cuba, from whom we always received his support and understanding”.
The Labour Party’s Dublin Central TD Joe Costello praised Mr Gregory’s work against drug abuse in the inner city and said: “Tony probably would not want this opportunity to go by without me making a special plea to ensure there are no cutbacks in the current level of funding for the local drugs task forces and the local community projects which do sterling work in the fight against drugs.”
He said that they had both battled for a limited number of votes in Dublin Central: “With some of the big names in Irish politics — Deputy Bertie Ahern, the late Jim Mitchell and Tony Gregory — Dublin Central was not for the faint hearted.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said “it was hard not to be impressed by Tony’s passionate belief in politics and his determination to do his utmost for his constituents”.
