Opposition leaders praise Jim Mitchell

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has said Jim Mitchell, who died last night after a long illness, had cleaned up the way in which corporate Ireland now does business, in standing up to enormous pressure and vested interests during the DIRT Inquiry.

Mr Sargent said: "He, more than anybody, has turned around the way in which corporate Ireland now has to be more accountable, and how politics has had to take stock of its own responsibility in making sure that corporate Ireland is more responsible and accountable"

Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte has attributed the late Mr Mitchell with setting a precedent for all future Public Accounts Committees.

Describing the former Fine Gael Minister as a most energetic politician, Deputy Rabbitte praised his stewardship of the DIRT Tax Inquiry.

He said: "I think his period as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee was a very major substantial achievement.

"His conduct of the DIRT Inquiry and the role he played in planning, managing and leading that inquiry was a template for the future."