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Tributes are being paid to former Taoiseach John Bruton who has died aged 76.
Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes said Mr Bruton was a fountain of good ideas and described his political career as very successful.
“You could disagree with him and not have a row. He was in a hurry to get things done,” he said.
Mr Dukes praised Mr Bruton’s time as Taoiseach saying he held a potentially disparate government together very well.
He said Mr Bruton will be greatly missed.
He was a strong character with an infectious laugh who was a constant challenge and a joy to deal with, Mr Dukes said.
Norah Owen, who served as justice minister and Fine Gael deputy leader during the rainbow coalition from 1994 to 1997, said Mr Bruton was an incredible man who really thought about what was good for the country and for the children of this country.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Colm Ó Mongáin, she said: “He would come up in the morning, early and say, I thought about this last night, I thought about this yesterday, and we’ve got to do this and we’ve got to do that. And he would set about to try and make improvements to our lives.”
She said Mr Bruton honed his political skills over a long number of years and was a man who knew his own mind and what he wanted to achieve.
“He was always on the go, he never stopped thinking and refining and revising policy.”
Ms Owen said she was so happy when Mr Bruton became Taoiseach in 1994.
That was the crowning glory of his career and I was very honoured to be his deputy leader during that time, she said.
Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly said he was “very saddened” to hear of Mr Bruton’s death.
In a post on X, he wrote “Very saddened to hear about the passing of my good friend and former Taoiseach John Bruton. My heart goes out to his family. He was a gentleman and one of the best politicians our country has had. May he rest in peace.”
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill has expressed her condolences to Mr Bruton’s family.
Speaking in the Assembly, she said: “I want to pass on my condolences to the family of former taoiseach John Bruton, who we’ve just been notified has sadly passed away.
“To his family and friends, we send them our condolences at this very sad time.”
The Ulster Unionist Party also offered its condolences to Mr Bruton’s family in a post on social media.
The Ulster Unionist Party wish to express sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of former Taoiseach John Bruton. pic.twitter.com/mjd7uFZ6rp
— Ulster Unionist Party (@uuponline) February 6, 2024
