The Tricolour at Government Buildings was lowered to half-mast yesterday as a mark of respect from Ireland's EU Presidency to the victims of the bomb attacks in Madrid, writes Marie O'Halloran.
In the Dáil the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, led the expressions of sympathy on behalf of the Government to the people of Spain in the aftermath of the three "barbaric, horrendous bomb attacks".
Mr Smith said it was a "very great tragedy that we still have people prepared to operate on that basis to cause terrible harm and wreak death on innocent people just going to their jobs".
He added: "I know I'm expressing the heartfelt sad wishes of the people in offering our sincere sympathy to everyone concerned and I hope that the people who carried out these atrocious acts will be brought to justice as quickly as possible."
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, described the "appalling terrorist atrocity" as an outrageous attack on democracy, coming just three days before the Spanish general election.
Mr Kenny said it was obvious that the government of Mr José Maria Aznar had taken very courageous steps to outlaw and deal with terrorism in Spain and he hoped that it would continue to be relentless in its pursuit of outlawing terrorism in all its forms.
He added: "In this country we know something about the families of victims. We know something about the depth of grief and the depth of feeling of loss caused by terrorist attacks."
Labour's deputy leader, Ms Liz McManus, said: "This island, North and South, will know the grief and the pain and the suffering that is caused by such bombings. We know it all too well and it's important that we stand in solidarity with Spain. This is an attack not just on the people, but on the whole concept of democracy."
Mr John Gormley, the Green Party's spokesman on foreign affairs, commented: "We should have no time for terrorists either here or abroad." Referring to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, he pointed out that the people who carried out those atrocities had not been brought to justice, adding: "It is my fervent wish that those who carried out the bombings in Madrid this morning will be brought to justice."
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, said that he joined with other speakers in "expressing sympathy to the people of Madrid", including the bereaved families and those who had been injured. "While not knowing the details, whatever the reason or the cause, whoever was responsible should take note that there must be a better way," he said.
Ms Marian Harkin, representing the Independent TDs, expressed "sincere sympathy to the Spanish people and government and especially to the families of all those people who have been so cruelly murdered this morning".