Former British prime minister Tony Blair today described Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his record as remarkable.
"He will always be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, for transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic," Mr Blair said.
Mr Blair's succesor as British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, praised the Taoiseach for his "invaluable and historic contribution" to the Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr Brown said Mr Ahern had also been "a very good personal friend to me" and
stressed that the peace process in the province would continue to progress
despite his resignation.
Speaking as he arrived in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, for a Nato summit, he said: "I think the whole of Britain will want to thank Bertie Ahern, and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom, for what was an invaluable and historic contribution to the peace process.
"His commitment to it, seeing it through over many years, supporting Tony
Blair and the others who contributed to making possible the Good Friday
Agreement and beyond, is something that will always be remembered in the whole of the United Kingdom."
Mr Brown also praised Mr Ahern for presiding over an expanding Irish economy
and seeing Ireland gaining greater status in the international community.
Mr Brown went on: "He's been a very good personal friend to me. We will miss
him at international gatherings and I think everybody will want to express their
appreciation of his work.
"The key thing is that the peace process will move forward."