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Former Irish prime minister Garret FitzGerald dies Former Irish prime minister Garret FitzGerald dies
(40 minutes later)
Former Irish prime minister Garret FitzGerald has died in hospital in Dublin after a short illness.Former Irish prime minister Garret FitzGerald has died in hospital in Dublin after a short illness.
Mr FitzGerald, who was 85, served twice as taoiseach between 1981 and 1987 at the head of two coalition governments.Mr FitzGerald, who was 85, served twice as taoiseach between 1981 and 1987 at the head of two coalition governments.
He was Fine Gael taoiseach at the time of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985.He was Fine Gael taoiseach at the time of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985.
He retired from the Dail in 1992, but still took part in political campaigns, particularly on the Nice and Lisbon Treaties.He retired from the Dail in 1992, but still took part in political campaigns, particularly on the Nice and Lisbon Treaties.
Mr FitzGerald, a former economics lecturer, was elected to the Seanad (the Irish Senate) in 1965 and the Dail in 1969.Mr FitzGerald, a former economics lecturer, was elected to the Seanad (the Irish Senate) in 1965 and the Dail in 1969.
When Fine Gael entered Government in 1973 he was appointed foreign affairs minister. When Fine Gael entered government in 1973 he was appointed foreign affairs minister.
He also played a leading role in the Sunningdale Agreement negotiations which led to the short-lived power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.He also played a leading role in the Sunningdale Agreement negotiations which led to the short-lived power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Mr FitzGerald had been "a major figure in Irish politics over many decades". Irish President Mary McAleese said Mr FitzGerald had been steeped in the history of the state and was someone who "constantly strove to make Ireland a better place".
'His thoughtful writing, distinctive voice and probing intellect all combined to make him one of our national treasures," she said.
"Above all, Garret Fitzgerald was a true public servant."
The Irish prime minister and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Mr Fitzgerald was "a truly remarkable man who made a truly remarkable contribution to Ireland".
He described him as the "epitome of high honour and decency in public life" and said his "towering intellect, enthusiasm for life and optimism" would be "missed by everyone".
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the former premier had been "a major figure in Irish politics over many decades".
'Courageous''Courageous'
He said he had only got to know him in later life as Mr Fitzgerald was "not interested" in meeting with Sinn Fein representatives during his time as taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael.He said he had only got to know him in later life as Mr Fitzgerald was "not interested" in meeting with Sinn Fein representatives during his time as taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael.
"My dealings with him only came in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and the regular visits he made to the Patrick Magill Summer School (held in Glenties, County Donegal) and I think he and I got on very well," Mr McGuinness added."My dealings with him only came in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and the regular visits he made to the Patrick Magill Summer School (held in Glenties, County Donegal) and I think he and I got on very well," Mr McGuinness added.
"I think at the end of day he was someone very conscious there were very many different views and that's why he came to Glenties and that's why he was prepared to listen very carefully to views, many of which would be the opposite of what he believed.""I think at the end of day he was someone very conscious there were very many different views and that's why he came to Glenties and that's why he was prepared to listen very carefully to views, many of which would be the opposite of what he believed."
Irish cabinet minister Joan Burton said Mr FitzGerald was an "extraordinary figure in Irish politics".Irish cabinet minister Joan Burton said Mr FitzGerald was an "extraordinary figure in Irish politics".
"In terms of his personal history, his mother was from Presbyterian stock from the north and his father was a very distinguished republican and statesman," she said."In terms of his personal history, his mother was from Presbyterian stock from the north and his father was a very distinguished republican and statesman," she said.
"Dr FitzGerald was one of the initiators of the peace process both in his time as minister for foreign affairs and in the administration that he led in the 1980s."Dr FitzGerald was one of the initiators of the peace process both in his time as minister for foreign affairs and in the administration that he led in the 1980s.
"He was a great man and he had really endearing personal characteristics, he was extremely approachable."He was a great man and he had really endearing personal characteristics, he was extremely approachable.
"He was very courageous, when Ireland was emerging from a dominant clericalism he was one of the voices who actually broke out to create a more secular state in which religion is honoured but the business of the state is the business of the Republic and not completely entwined with that of particular churches.""He was very courageous, when Ireland was emerging from a dominant clericalism he was one of the voices who actually broke out to create a more secular state in which religion is honoured but the business of the state is the business of the Republic and not completely entwined with that of particular churches."
Seamus Mallon, former SDLP deputy first minister, said he was "saddened on a personal and political level".Seamus Mallon, former SDLP deputy first minister, said he was "saddened on a personal and political level".
Mr Mallon said he admired the approach Mr FitzGerald had brought to his role as taoiseach and the political process.Mr Mallon said he admired the approach Mr FitzGerald had brought to his role as taoiseach and the political process.
"I think many would note the irony that he died during a royal visit which never could have happened had it not been for the efforts that he and his government made when, in effect, they created and built the Anglo-Irish Agreement and had it agreed with a British government which at that time and prior to that time had been very reluctant to enter into any serious type of negotiations," he said."I think many would note the irony that he died during a royal visit which never could have happened had it not been for the efforts that he and his government made when, in effect, they created and built the Anglo-Irish Agreement and had it agreed with a British government which at that time and prior to that time had been very reluctant to enter into any serious type of negotiations," he said.