The new chairman of the planning tribunal, Judge Alan Mahon, has led generous tributes to his predecessor, Mr Justice Feargus Flood, who resigned last month after six years in the job.
And he was joined in congratulating Mr Justice Flood by former Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Liam Lawlor.
Speaking yesterday from the witness box, Mr Lawlor also gave his best wishes to Judge Mahon on his appointment. But he said he didn't know whether to congratulate or commiserate with the new chairman.
Judge Mahon said Mr Justice Flood, who was in his seventies for much of his period in office, had "loyally discharged a task that many would have balked at".
Paying tribute to his "hard work, dedication and sense of duty," he said the tribunal's work had grown enormously over this period. It had never been envisaged at the start that it would grow in this way.
Yet Mr Justice Flood had worked alone as the sole member of the tribunal for five years, showing "selfless service". As well as chairing the public hearings, he was also charged with the effective running of the tribunal office.
Tribunal lawyer Mr John Gallagher SC also paid tribute to the departing chairman. As a High Court judge, Mr Justice Flood had been held in extremely high regard by the members of his profession, although he wasn't as well-known to the public as he was now. He was known to everyone who dealt with him as a "courteous and generous" man, and that was still true now.
"He is civil, friendly, good-humoured and gregarious, and enjoys good food, good company and the occasional glass of wine," said Mr Gallagher. Counsel wished Mr Justice Flood and his family well in his retirement, saying he hoped he would find more time for "gardening and babysitting".
