The Taoiseach last night led the tributes to the prominent Northern politician, trade unionist and author, Mr Paddy Devlin, who died in Belfast yesterday after a long illness.
Mr Devlin was one of the founders of the SDLP, a minister in the short-lived Northern Executive of 1974, and the author of an award-winning autobiography.
Mr Ahern said: "His life's work was equally marked by his social vision and his political concern. He was deeply committed to the cause of civil rights and the trade union movement, and his contribution to Northern politics and life was immense."
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said he had known Mr Devlin and enjoyed his company. "He was a great anti-sectarian politician of limitless courage and deep convictions.
"His courage was forged through his experiences of poverty in the Belfast in which he grew up and which he described so well in his book, Yes, We Have No Bananas.
"His politics was, at all times, one which was blind to the religious affiliation of those with whom he was doing business. He was, for this reason, a very effective member of the power-sharing executive.
"He bore his long illness with great dignity and concern for others. His sense of humour was legendary. I wish there were more Paddy Devlins in the politics of this island."
Dr Garret FitzGerald, a former Taoiseach, described Mr Devlin as "one of the most generous and big-hearted" of Irish politicians. "He had a capacity to empathise with his political opponents which has been all too rare in Northern Ireland.
"I had enormous respect for his integrity and courage. I am very sad indeed to hear of his death."
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said: "I was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Paddy Devlin. I knew Paddy Devlin and will remember him as a person of great courage and vision. As a founder-member of the SDLP, he sought to bring about change in Northern Ireland through dialogue and discussion. As a trade unionist, he will be remembered as one of the giants in the Irish labour movement. He will be sadly missed."
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paddy Devlin, and I express my deepest sympathy to his wife, Theresa, and all the members of his family. Paddy gave a lifetime of outstanding public service to the people of Northern Ireland, and I have no doubt that there is enormous sympathy right across the community for the family in their very sad bereavement."
