A Kerryman (29) awaiting a lung transplant for four years died today in a Dublin hospital.
The case of Billy Burke came to public attention earlier this year after a dispute between two UK hospitals on whether Mr Buke, an accountant from Killorglin, was suitable for the operation.
Billy Burke died in a Dublin hospital
His cystic fibrosis condition deteriorated recently and he died this morning in the Mater Hospital.
In a statement, his family said he had "passed away peacefully"
"We would like to sincerely thank everybody who was involved in Billy's care and those who offered words of support for Billy's plight," the statement added.
The Tánaiste said her "thoughts and prayers" were with Mr Burke's family.
Mr Burke was found by a hospital in Newcastle to be unsuitable for a transplant but a hospital in Manchester, from where his family sought a second opinion, said he was a suitable candidate for the operation.
The Manchester hospital then said it would only operate if the lungs provided for him came from the Irish donor pool.
The Burke family believed this would be straightforward until they discovered lungs donated in Ireland are only given to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle under a long-running agreement between it and the State. Newcastle had refused to put Mr Burke on its priority list for when lungs are donated.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, paid a private visit to Mr Billy Burke, in his home in April. The visit was made in response to a direct appeal by the Burke family.