Rarely can a politician's departure have been marked by such generous tributes as greeted the news yesterday that Dr Mo Mowlam is to retire from the House of Commons at the next British general election. With the notable exception of the unionist parties, that positive feeling was fully reflected in Irish comment. She will long be remembered for the vital and pivotal role she played in the Northern Ireland peace process - in opposition and as Northern Ireland Secretary from May 1997 to October 1999 - and for her refreshingly informal and direct personal style.
When Dr Mowlam took over from Mr Kevin McNamara as Labour Party spokesperson on Northern Ireland, it was widely seen as part of a shift away from that party's traditional commitment to Irish unity. The new approach was based on the modernising agenda of New Labour, led by Mr Tony Blair, as applied to Northern Ireland. Its focus was on devolution, human rights and power-sharing in keeping with constitutional change elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
One of Dr Mowlam's most considerable achievements was to convince politicians and officials in Northern Ireland and this State that a Labour government based on this policy stance would take the peace process seriously as a top political priority. That laid the ground very well for when she took up office. Mr Blair and herself were as good as their word with a commitment central to concluding the Belfast Agreement in less that a year after they came to power.
The unprecedentedly close relationship which developed between the two sovereign governments owes a great deal to Dr Mowlam. Her willingness to take risks in pursuit of peace broke the mould of Northern Ireland politics. It could offend traditionalists, as could her personal political style. In time, the unionist parties became convinced that she was tilting politically towards the nationalists - so much so that they bypassed her when dealing with Mr Blair. Argument continues as to whether he should have backed her more strenuously by yielding to her desire to stay in the job. By the time she was transferred to the Cabinet Office, it was quite clear he had concluded that the necessary brokerage role played by the Northern Ireland Secretary was no longer possible for her.
Besides, Mr Blair was not convinced she would be suitable for a large spending ministry or for the Foreign Office which she was reported to prefer at the height of her popularity within the Labour Party. She has found the Cabinet Office job unsatisfactory and could not be sure she would be included in a new Labour government. Such are the cruelties of politics - but that vocation is poorer for Dr Mowlam's departure.