Never has the need been greater for the qualities shown by Jim Mitchell

JIM MITCHELL was a remarkable, perhaps a unique, politician. Famous for his willingness to take risks with his own seat on behalf of his party, he also never shirked taking risky political positions.

Although he served with distinction as a minister, it was really as a backbencher and committee chairman that he made his name, and there are very few Irish politicians of whom you can honestly say that.

He had a great eye for a headline, he was honest, gutsy, original and committed. He was also great company, with the ability to laugh at himself as much as anything else. He died as he had lived, a credit to politics, to parliament, and to his party, Fine Gael.