Reflecting on 40 years in news reporting, Bryan Dobson said some Taoisigh didn't consider they “need to be doing interviews regularly”. 

The RTÉ veteran officially retired on Friday, after 37 years of presenting shows such as RTÉ News at One and RTÉ News: Six One. 

He told The Pat Kenny Show it was strange waking up this morning and not heading to the national broadcasters’ studios. 

“I woke up and I realised that I'm not going to work for the first time in 40 years,” he said. “I don’t have to turn up anywhere.” 

Mr Dobson has no major plans for retirement beyond spending time with family and sailing, which he calls his “happy place”. 

On his last day, the RTÉ journalist had the opportunity to interview Taoiseach Simon Harris, who “ambushed [Mr Dobson] with compliments”, according to Pat Kenny. 

Bryan Dobson on his last day presenting the RTE Six One News after 21 years, 21/05/2017. Image: Rolling News

Reporting for the national broadcaster, Mr Dobson has spoken with all political leaders in the last 40 years, developing a unique relationship with each one. 

“Albert [Reynolds] once phoned me to complain about a story that I had done as business correspondent and he was Minister for Finance,” he said. 

“The late John Bruton was a big political thinker... and then we had Bertie, the great communicator. 

“Someone as a capable as Bertie understood this; you go in with a certain agenda to say a certain number of things you want to say and no further. 

“And then Brian Cowen, I always thought he felt interviews were more of an obligation than an opportunity and I think sometimes he didn't appreciate the opportunity. 

“Enda [Kenny] was probably the Taoiseach I interviewed least - I don't know whether it was himself or his handlers that kept him really away from the cameras and the microphones.” 

Dobson speaking to Taoisigh

Mr Dobson said Mr Kenny shying away from cameras – or any politicians not willing to speak with the press – is making a mistake. 

“Obviously I would think that because we want to have access to these people,” he said. 

“But I think you need in this business to be match-fit - you need to be out doing it fairly regularly to keep up that that sort of skill level.” 

Bryan Dobson and Charlie Bird. Image: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

Leo Varadkar, according to Mr Dobson, was always “great value” because he would “go anywhere” and “answer any question”. 

“He must have been a nightmare for his handlers,” he said. 

Micheál Martin likes to be “challenged”, in Mr Dobson’s experience, recalling one interview that became quite the sparring match. 

“At the end of the programme, he said ‘Thanks very much, I really enjoyed that!’,” Mr Dobson said. 

Beyond his complimentary interview on Friday, Mr Dobson has not had much chance to witness the latest Taoiseach Simon Harris in action, with the mantel passed on to another presenter.