Tributes to Tony Gregory following the death of the Independent TD for Dublin Central.
Tony Gregory had been a Dáil deputy for almost twenty seven years.
RTÉ News takes a look back over the eventful political career of Mr Gregory, a proud Dubliner and advocate for his community.
In February 1982, Gregory was elected to Dáil Éireann and played a crucial part in the formation of a government. An agreement was made between Mr Gregory and Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey involving housing, education and jobs for the people of Dublin's inner city.
Known as 'The Gregory Deal', it saw an investment of millions of pounds in the inner city.
Gregory was elected in every election since 1982.
He came to national prominence in 1986 when he was jailed over the stance he took on behalf of Dublin's street traders.
He was also a fearless anti-drugs campaigner who worked to highlight the damage that drugs were causing in inner-city communities.
In 1993, Gregory urged the Dáil to ban hare coursing but his Wildlife Bill was defeated. More recently, he was to the forefront of the campaign to stop the United States military using Shannon Airport as a stopover. He also backed the Shell-to-Sea Campaign in Mayo.
He was the first TD not to wear a tie in Leinster House.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 January 2009. The reporter is Michael Lehane.
