Tributes after death of veteran Fine Gael politician Bernard Allen

Mr Allen, who served as a TD for Cork North Central for 30 years, was 79.

He had been battling an illness for some time.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris expressed his condolences on the death of Mr Allen.

“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Bernard Allen,” Mr Harris said.

“Bernard was a pillar of his community, whose dedication and loyalty to the people he served were unmatched. His career as a TD, which began in 1981 and spanned over 30 years, was marked by an unwavering commitment to addressing the concerns and needs of his constituents.

“Throughout his political career, he served as Lord Mayor of Cork, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and Minister of State.

“Bernard was a man with endless reserves of wisdom and wit, who knew the perfect time to deploy the right amount of either. He was a beloved colleague in Fine Gael and beyond, a proud Corkman and a good friend.

“To his wife Marie, their children, Lorraine, Audrey and Deirdre, my deepest sympathy at this very difficult time.

“May he rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

A former Lord Mayor of Cork, he was elected to the Dáil at the 1981 General Election and successfully defended his seat until his retirement before the 2011 General Election.

A native of Cork city, Mr Allen attended both the North Monastery secondary school and University College Cork (UCC).

He became involved in politics in the 1970s and was elected to the then Cork Corporation in 1979.

He served as Lord Mayor of Cork in 1988.

Mr Allen’s ministerial career began when he was appointed Junior Education Minister by then Taoiseach John Bruton when the Rainbow Coalition took power in 1994.

His responsibilities included Sport and Youth Affairs and he enjoyed a very high profile thanks to Irish successes at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and other international sports events.

Mr Allen also chaired a number of high profile Dáil committees including the Public Accounts Committee from 2007 until his retirement.

His decision not to contest the 2011 General Election surprised many given the predicted Fine Gael landslide and the fact he had served as Enda Kenny’s spokesperson on both foreign affairs and the environment.

In retirement, he remained very involved in sports and cultural matters.