POLITICAL REACTION:LEADING THE tributes from party leaders to the late Dr Patrick Hillery, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the former president was assured of an honoured place in Ireland's history.
Opposition leader Enda Kenny said the late president embodied all that was best about Irish public life over his long political career.
At the beginning of his leader's speech to the Green Party conference, Minister for the Environment John Gormley paid tribute to Dr Hillery as "a very honourable statesman".
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said the former president was one of the most admired and respected figures in Irish politics.
Minister for Health and acting leader of the Progressive Democrats Mary Harney said Dr Hillery's ability, energy and integrity helped secure him a significant and proud role in Irish political history.
Fianna Fáil MEP and co-president of the Union for Europe of the Nations group in the European Parliament, Brian Crowley, said Dr Hillery was a great Irishman who always exercised his political duties with courtesy, humility and professionalism.
"He oversaw our negotiations to join the European Union in a very diplomatic and determined manner. He oversaw this process at a very difficult and sensitive time, as the Troubles in Northern Ireland had now broken out. He was, too, a very inspiring member of the European Commission, having responsibility for the brief of EU social affairs policy and employment matters. He oversaw the introduction of the European Social Fund, which is still a key EU financial instrument."
The Taoiseach said: "Dr Hillery's entire career sums up what is best about politics and public service. He was a man of great integrity, decency and intelligence. He contributed massively to the progress of our country and he is assured of an honoured place in Ireland's history."
He continued: "For 40 years, Dr Patrick Hillery was at the cutting edge of Irish public life and set an unsurpassable standard of integrity and delivery. He was a true and unassuming patriot who in his time made a noble contribution to the wellbeing of our country. He will be sadly missed."
The Fine Gael leader expressed his condolences to the Hillery family. "Former President Hillery was a great statesman, an accomplished politician and a true patriot. Paddy Hillery embodied all that was best about Irish public life over his long political career. He was a warm and engaging personality and of all things in life he loved his wife and his native Clare most."
Green Party leader John Gormley said: "Dr Hillery was a politician whose honour and honesty won him friends and respect across the political spectrum in Ireland. He brought dignity and integrity to the position of president, and maintained its independence during at times turbulent political events."
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said: "Patrick Hillery was a hugely important figure in Irish public life for more than 40 years, serving with distinction in a range of key roles at national and international level. He was one of the most admired and respected figures in Irish politics."
He added: "Dr Hillery will be particularly remembered for the crucial role he played in ensuring the stability of the institutions of the State and our democratic system in the aftermath of the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland the 1970 arms crisis."
Mary Harney said: "Patrick Hillery shares the twin distinction of having implemented many important reforms across a wide range of areas, and of having acted with integrity and courage in a manner that was a great credit to him personally and to the office of president."
"As president of Ireland he showed that his greatest loyalty was to the Constitution of Ireland. His actions in 1982 will remain a testament to the importance of principle over pragmatism in key moments of history," she added.
Former president Mary Robinson expressed sadness at the death of her predecessor, paying tribute to Dr Hillery's personal generosity and service in office.
"It immediately evoked lots of memories, probably in particular between the election and my inauguration in 1990, how warm and supportive both the Hillerys were. They invited us up to Áras an Úachtaráin, we had tea with them and they brought us around the place. He said, 'now wander around, think about it, this is going to be your home'," she told The Irish Times.
Mrs Robinson said she believed Dr Hillery had been a very good president. "He did operate under very considerable constraints. He operated under resource constraints. I got a much, much bigger budget than he did."