Dublin reaction:The leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, David Ervine, "was a courageous politician" who tried to move loyalist paramilitaries into politics, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.
Leading the tributes to Mr Ervine, who died yesterday, Mr Ahern said the PUP leader had been "an enormously valuable and important voice for his community.
"He was a passionate defender of the most disadvantaged in society and not solely those in his own constituency in East Belfast," he said, adding that Mr Ervine had "travelled his own difficult journey to democratic politics".
Expressing sadness at Mr Ervine's untimely death, President Mary McAleese said his contribution to Northern Ireland politics during very difficult and challenging times will always be remembered".
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said Mr Ervine had been "a voice of reconciliation and common sense" through crucial years in the Northern Ireland peace process.
"His remarkable contribution to the search for a lasting peace on this island was nowhere more evident than in his courageous support for the Good Friday agreement."
Offering his condolences to Mr Ervine's family, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Mr Ervine was "a politician of true courage and conviction" who had played a key role in the peace process.
"Despite his background in militant loyalism, David Ervine was generous in reaching out to those of a different political persuasion and was particularly interested in developing contacts with people south of the Border," he said.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said Mr Ervine's death "at this time, when crucial decisions are awaited about Northern Ireland's political future, will be deeply felt".
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the PUP leader had been "an erudite and refreshingly straight-talking public representative" who did not speak "unless he had something substantive to say.
"His death leaves a major vacuum in terms of the quality of political representatives in Northern Ireland. I hope that the legacy of Mr Ervine's bravery will be taken up by others after him," said Mr Sargent.
Former minister of state for foreign affairs Liz O'Donnell said Mr Ervine had been "in my view perhaps the most progressive voice on the Unionist side in Northern Ireland" who had been in transforming loyalism.
