Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today announced Ireland would observe a period of official mourning to mark the death of Pope John Paul II.
Mr Ahern said schools would have the option of closing on Friday and public servants would be given time off to pay their respects.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
The move follow pressure for a national day of mourning from the public, some senior members of the Catholic clergy and from Opposition politicians, including the Fine Gael leader.
"From now until the funeral is over we are having a period of official mourning," he said. "I hope all of us, at least those of us who held the Pope dearly regardless if they are Catholic or not, will spend time reflecting," the Taoiseach said.
"If people want to call Friday the national day of mourning I have no difficulty with that. The whole idea is that we use it as a day of reflection."
Opposition politicians and members of the public had called for one day to be held over for national mourning.
But Mr Ahern said Ireland was now doing more than many other nations who had announced periods of reflection. He said although countries such as Italy and Portugal had announced a national day of mourning, services and industry would remain open.
School governors are to be given the option to shut on the day of the Pope's funeral. And leaders of the country's private business sector are also to discuss ways of allowing workers time off to pay their respects to the Pontiff.
Mr Ahern said the period of reflection was following precedents set in the state after the death of Pope John XXIII and President Eamon de Valera.
The Bishop of Galway, Dr James McLoughlin, had earlier asked the Government to reconsider its decision not to hold a national day of mourning. He said that if countries such as Cuba could mourn for three days, Ireland should at least mark the occasion.
A special requiem mass for the Pope will be held on Wednesday in Galway Cathedral at 7.30pm.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also called on the Taoiseach to reconsider his decision, suggesting that next Sunday be designated a national day of mourning for the Pope.
He said that in the interim, those wishing to take part in Masses or other religious services coinciding with the Pope's funeral should be accommodated by their employers.
"A time of official mourning would give the Irish people an important opportunity to connect publicly with a more subtle, though vital, dimension of who we are," he said.
"Pope John Paul II was an inspiration not just to his own Polish people, for whom he was synonymous with freedom, human rights and democracy, but to Catholics and Christians everywhere, especially here in Ireland."
Independent TD for Mayo Dr Jerry Cowley and the former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon also called for a national mourning day.
An hour of music, prayer and reflections on World Youth Day in memory of Pope John Paul II will take place in the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street, Dublin tonight from 8pm to 9pm.
The prayers will be led by Bishop Raymond Field, with representatives from World Youth Day Ireland and the Diocesan Music Group.
Also on Wednesday, a concelebrated Mass led by Bishop Eamonn Walsh will be celebrated at Rowe Street in Wexford to mark the death of Pope John Paul II.
Members of the Polish and Italian communities will take part in the celebration.
The Irish Nurses' Organisation has cancelled protests due to take place this Thursday as a mark of respect following the death of the Pope. The INO said it has communicated condolences on behalf of its 30,000 nurse and midwife members directly to the Papal Nuncio.
Protests at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and at Wexford General Hospital due to take place this Thursday were aimed at highlighting overcrowding in A&E departments. Protests will commence next Tuesday instead, the INO said.