Tributes were paid to Mr Bruton by Mr Jim Mitchell and Mr Michael Noonan, who said they hoped he would continue to make a major contribution to Fine Gael.
"Firstly I want to say that I believe history will judge John Bruton very well for his great contribution so far in Irish politics and I very much hope that he will continue to contribute at a very high level," Mr Mitchell said, after the results of the ballot were declared.
He said the 7-1/2 hour parliamentary party meeting had been "very, very intense, very civilised". Mr Mitchell said the decision to seek a no-confidence motion in Mr Bruton was "a very painful experience" but said that it would give Fine Gael "a new start, a new beginning and this is the first step".
Mr Michael Noonan said he hoped that Mr Bruton would continue to contribute not only to Fine Gael but to the people of Ireland. "There was no rancour. Points were put very, very fairly and, indeed, the party showed a level of conviction and talent in great numbers that we hadn't seen for a long time," he said.
"John Bruton was dignified and was forceful and performed certainly up to his highest standards. His speech was just as impressive as his performance on television the other evening and he leaves with the admiration and respect of his party."
Asked about possible candidates for the leadership, Mr Noonan said it was not the night for discussing possible successors. "There are other people who may be interested in the leadership of Fine Gael.
"And, as I say, tonight is, I feel, a night to announce the result of no confidence and pay tribute to John Bruton who both as Taoiseach, leader of the Opposition and vice-president of European Christian Democrats and, indeed World Christian Democrats, has made a major contribution to Irish politics."
Mr Mitchell repeated his belief that there was a leadership problem "with the image and management methods of John Bruton, and his communication methods. They, we believe, are the major problems that will now be addressed".
He said both men were offering themselves as alternative leaders and deputy leaders and it was open to others to offer themselves as potential leaders.
Paying tribute to Mr Bruton, deputy leader Mrs Nora Owen said party members were "very, very sad" at his departure. Turning to Mr Bruton, she said: "We know what you have given to the party. We know what you have given to the country."
In an unexpected moment of levity, She described Mr Bruton as a "convicted politician" before correcting herself and saying that he was a politician of conviction. Ms Owen said she and her colleagues were feeling a "little bit stressed and a little sad" at the events of the day. She said she had been honoured to have been chosen by Mr Bruton to be deputy leader of the party and was proud to have worked alongside him.
Announcing the results of the ballot, Fine Gael party chairman Mr Phil Hogan said a special meeting would be held this morning to discuss arrangements for the election of a new leader.
Mr Hogan and Fine Gael whip Mr Charles Flanagan also paid warm tributes tribute to Mr Bruton last night. Mr Bruton was a man of the "greatest integrity", Mr Hogan said.
"He is an outstanding leader, an outstanding Taoiseach and somebody that will leave office as leader of Fine Gael with his integrity intact and with a great record of public service to the people of the Fine Gael party but more particularly to his constituents of Meath and the people of Ireland," Mr Hogan said.
Nobody could deny that the party had gone through a difficult time in the past few days, he said, and he called for unity behind the new leader. Mr Hogan said the party had gone through leadership challenges before and said that Mr Bruton had survived and had unified the party behind me.
Mr Charles Flanagan said the former party leader had made a "tremendous contribution" to the Dail since he was elected in 1969. Both Mr Flanagan and Mr Hogan declined to speculate on any other potential candidates for the leadership of the party "out of respect for our leader".