Offaly's Tom Parlon is remembering him as a man of great integrity and bravery.
Former Minister and founder of the Progressive Democrats Des O'Malley has died aged 82.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has described Mr O'Malley as a "giant of Irish politics".
First elected as a TD in 1968, Des O'Malley was returned to the Dáil by the people of Limerick on eleven consecutive occasions spanning a 34 year political career.
O'Malley was appointed Justice Minister in 1970 in the wake of the Arms Crisis that saw the sacking of one Charlie Haughey, and his tussles with Haughey down the years would define much of his career.
He took a hardline with the IRA as Justice Minister - introducing the juryless Special Criminal Court to tackle jury intimidation.
He spoke about being armed with a pistol in those years as Minister due to the threat from paramilitaries.
O'Malley was on the losing side when Charlie Haughey won the Fianna Fáil leadership contest in December 1979 but the divisions of the Arms Crisis remained.
After numerous botched heaves and quarrels with Haughey, he quit cabinet in 1982, and was expelled from Fianna Fáil in 1984 for defying the party whip in a vote on contraceptive reform.
In 1985, Des O'Malley was a founder of the Progressive Democrats and just four years later returned to cabinet, making Haughey break the long held position that Fianna Fáil would never enter coalition.
He stepped back from leadership of the PDs after that Government before leaving political life in 2002.
Former Progressive Democrat TD, Offaly's Tom Parlon, is remembering him as a man of great integrity, who changed Ireland's political landscape:
TII Pressured To Provide Update On Major Midlands Road Project
Edenderry Festival Lineup Revealed
Midlands-Based Student Takes Bronze At Culinary Contest
New Legislation Just The First Step -Midlands Cancer Support Centre
Irish Credit Unions Hit Record Lending Levels
ADHD Ireland Issues Social Media Warning
Laois Footballer Tackles First Dates Ireland
New Jobs Announced For Midlands
Cancer Survivors Welcome ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Mortgage Reform
Irish Cancer Society Calls For Support This Daffodil Day
Interactive Offaly Event Highlights Barriers Faced By Abuse Survivors
Lawyers Seek To Overturn Murder Conviction Over Midlands Shooting
Burglary Gang Breaks Into Midlands Shopping Centre
Laois TD Wants New Fire Station Fastracked
Midlands Housing Commencements Continue To Rise
Almost 39,000 Midlands Workers Auto-Enrolled In New Government Pension Scheme
RTB Figures Show Annual Increase Of Over 10% For New Tenancy Rates In Offaly
12 One Act Plays To Be Staged By Laois Arts Collective
No Indication Of Meningitis Outbreak In Ireland - HSE
Laois Library To Host 'Skills For Life' Event