POLITICIANS and churchmen have joined in paying tribute to Cardinal Daly and wishing him well in his retirement.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton said that during his distinguished career, Cardinal Daly had met many challenges with great courage. "His was not an easy task steering his church through difficult times. It is also to his lasting credit that he recognised the importance of close co-operation with his fellow church leaders on this island and sought to accentuate and maximise what we all share in common.
He said the people of Ireland owed Cardinal Daly a great debt for his continuous efforts for peace. "He has set a headline for others to follow as a strong voice against the futility and injustice of all forms of violence."
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said he admired the Cardinal's passionate commitment to peace in Ireland and his willingness to go to almost any lengths to advance the cause of dialogue and reconciliation. "Although, naturally, there were areas where he and I would disagree, I believe he served his people well and to the best of his very considerable ability."
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, recalled that he had known the Cardinal for more than 50 years, since they shared a locker at UCD. "The church is particularly indebted to the Cardinal for the leadership he has given in the cause of peace.
"Compassionate in his appreciation of suffering and fair minded in his judgment about the conflict of rights, he has spoken and acted with courage throughout years of experience that tested but never diminished his resolute pursuit of a new order of Justice and love."
The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, paid tribute to Cardinal Daly's "scholarship, personal spirituality, resilience and devotion to duty".
"As leader of Ireland's Roman Catholic Church, Dr Daly has consistently represented the views of his church and people while earnestly endeavouring to understand the needs of other traditions."
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, expressed his "profound regret that such a fine Christian leader is retiring".
"Again and again, he has spoken out courageously on behalf of his people and yet at all times was fair to other traditions. His learning, his spirituality, his integrity were there for all fair minded people to see."
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Harry Allen, praised Cardinal Daly's "clear leadership and understanding".
"The Cardinal's knowledge of Presbyterianism and its doctrines was what one would expect from a gifted academic and a north Antrim man and was much, appreciated in his dealings with the Presbyterian Church."
The President of the Methodist Church, Rev Kenneth Best, added his good wishes for the Cardinal's retirement and praised his leadership and qualities as a peacemaker. "Throughout the troubles', he has been strong in his condemnation of violence, from whichever quarter it came. His strong stand on his church's theology and moral teaching has not prevented him from co-operating fully with other churches."
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, described Cardinal Daly as a beacon in the wilderness of community polarisation and senseless violence. "He stood for calm, for reasoned debate, for equity and justice, and raised his voice above the tumult to speak of moral rights, of the common Christian bonds which in religion unite so many of our communities, north and south, and of the duties and responsibilities we all have to open our minds and hearts to the essential Christian message."
The leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, also wished Cardinal Daly well in his retirement.
"In recent years, he had the difficult task of dealing with a series of controversies which rocked the Irish Catholic Church to its foundations. I believe Cardinal Daly overcame his innate conservatism and succeeded in confronting many of the issues which threatened to undermine the role of the Catholic Church in Ireland."