President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to former broadcaster David Davin-Power, who has died aged 72.
The Dublin-born journalist began working with RTÉ News in 1978 and became one of the first presenters of Morning Ireland.
Mr Davin-Power later served as Northern Ireland editor and then worked as a political correspondent in Dublin for more than 15 years.
He retired in 2017 but continued to write columns for the Times Ireland edition and the Sunday Independent.
Mr Higgins said Mr Davin-Power was a “consummate broadcaster and communicator” who provided “decades of incisive analysis” across his roles at RTÉ.
“He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, his colleagues in the media, across the Oireachtas and by the public who were so informed by his work,” he said.
Retired RTÉ newsreader Bryan Dobson paid tribute to his friend Mr Davin-Power’s ability to make complex stories “immediately understandable” and to hone in “on what really mattered”.
“We’ve really lost a giant of public service broadcasting,” he told Drivetime.
Director-general of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst said Mr Davin-Power had “one of the most incisive political brains at RTÉ and indeed in Ireland”.
“For many years, he was familiar to audiences, colleagues and politicians as insightful, eloquent and scrupulously fair. Off-screen, he was also funny, a great storyteller and was hugely loyal to colleagues, friends and to RTÉ itself.
“More than all of that, he loved his family and spoke of them with huge pride and joy.
“When I saw him in the summer he was already very ill but was on great form – wanting to talk politics: Irish, UK, US and of course RTÉ.
“Always with a glint in his eye, some mischief and his memorable laugh. We will all miss him hugely.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to him as “a trusted name who was welcomed into homes across the country throughout his long career”.
“He was one of the first presenters of Morning Ireland, an accomplished Northern Editor of RTÉ at a key moment in history, a political correspondent who knew the Dáil inside out, and in recent years, a witty and insightful columnist.
“David was always a consummate professional, a thorough journalist, and a gentleman.
“He was a storyteller who was generous with his time, he was an interesting person who was interested in other people, and he was kind to those around him.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was “thorough and razor sharp in his questioning and analysis, but fair”.
“He was always driven to get to the bottom of every story he worked on. I always enjoyed my engagements with David, and our conversations over the years.
“He had an outstanding ability to explain even the most complicated of stories, making the news accessible to all. His contribution to journalism was immense.
“My thoughts are with David’s family, friends and former colleagues at this difficult time.”
He is survived by his wife Dearbhla, five children and wider family.
