Taoiseach Bertie Ahern paid tribute to long-term political ally Tony Blair today by saying he had left a priceless legacy of peace and agreement in Ireland.
In a statement following the British prime minister's announcement that he is to retire on June 27th, Mr Ahern said he had been privileged to have worked with Mr Blair on the peace process and to have forged an unprecedented partnership that made a real difference to the relationship between Britain and Ireland.
"Tony Blair has been a friend to Ireland. And I am proud also to count him as a friend of mine," he said.
The Taoiseach said the British leader leaves office with an honoured place in Irish history assured. "From his first days as prime minister he devoted unprecedented time and attention to bringing the appalling conflict in Northern Ireland to an end.
"The Good Friday Agreement stands as a noble testament to his commitment to address the problem of Northern Ireland in a fair and balanced way.
"The ending of his term of office coincides with the success finally achieved at Stormont on May 8th," Mr Ahern said.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte described Mr Blair as an exceptionally skilful politician who transformed the British Labour Party and led it to a remarkable three successive general election victories.
Mr Rabbitte said: "Mr Blair will be remembered with particular respect in this country for the remarkable energy, dedication and commitment he showed to the search for a permanent peace and lasting political solution in Northern Ireland.
"Mr Blair was also, of course, a controversial figure. There were many areas where I disagreed with his policies and actions - in particular his support for the US-led invasion of Iraq," he added.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Mr Blair had made a "significant and crucial contribution" to the peace process.
"The Good Friday Agreement and the restoration of the political institutions would not have been possible without him.
"Sinn Féin want the next British prime minister to be the last with any jurisdiction in Ireland, and we will work hard to ensure that this is achieved in the time ahead."
Progressive Democrat leader Michael McDowell said he believed Mr Blair's work to bring "what we all hope will be an enduring peace settlement in Northern Ireland will be his crowning political legacy.
"That work eventually bore fruit with the re-establishment of a powersharing Executive at Stormont on Tuesday last, which is unprecedented in that it encompasses the political extremes of that age-old conflict," he said.