Queen Adds Her Voice As Fitzgerald Mourned

Former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, 85, has passed away in a Dublin hospital after a short illness.

He served as Taoiseach twice between 1981 and 1987 and made key negotiations in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 helping Northern Ireland work towards a peaceful future.

Her Majesty The Queen - who is visiting Ireland this week - commented: "I was saddened to hear this morning's news of the death of Garret FitzGerald, a true statesman," she said. "He made a lasting contribution to peace and will be greatly missed."

In a personal message to her host, Irish President Mary McAleese, the Queen asked for her sincere condolences to be passed to the FitzGerald family.

President Mary McAleese has already said last night that Garret Fitzgerald (pictured) was "a true public servant".

In a statement she added: "Steeped in the history of the State, he constantly strove to make Ireland a better place for all its people.

"During my years as President, I greatly benefited from Garret's forensic intelligence and sound advice in his faithful role as a member of the Council of State.

She continued: "While Garret was bereft at the loss of his beloved Joan, he was very fortunate to be surrounded by the love and care of his very attentive family and a wide network of friends.

"I offer my deepest condolences to all of them on their very sad loss and hope they will derive some consolation from the knowledge that Garret lived his life with total integrity, unrelenting purpose and an unquenchable concern for the welfare of Ireland and its citizens."

Meanwhile, the Irish tricolour has been lowered to half-mast over Government Buildings and at Leinster House, as a mark of respect to the veteran politician, economist and journalist.

The Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn said: "His contribution to this country has been great. He was a man of great integrity and powerful intellect.

"Garret was passionate about Europe and Ireland's place in it and I worked closely with him on a number of European referenda. He was a great force for modernisation and tolerance in Ireland.

"Nowhere is this clearer than in his role in the peace process in Northern Ireland – probably his finest political achievement. He can be credited with leading Ireland on the path of rapprochement with Britain and truly paving the way for the Anglo Irish Agreement."

The Minister concluded: "His passing during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II this week is particularly poignant given his crucial role in building these relationships."

In NI, Peter Robinson, the Stormont Executive First Minister said: "Dr Garret Fitzgerald was a dominant figure in the politics of the Republic of Ireland for more than 20 years.

"I met with him on a number of occasions in turbulent times though those encounters were always conducted on the most friendly and courteous basis.

"Dr Fitzgerald and I disagreed profoundly on many things, especially the Anglo-Irish Agreement, but he never allowed political difference to become a bar to personal relations.

"I offer condolences to the family circle from the people of Northern Ireland along with my own sincere personal sympathy," he said.

The Alliance Leader David Ford has also expressed his sadness at the death of former Irish Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald: "I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of one of the true gentlemen of Irish politics.

"He led the process to improve relations between our two countries and I would like to praise him for doing so. He will be remembered as one of Ireland's great statesmen.

"I would like to extend my condolences and sympathies to his family," he said.

Sinn Fein President and Louth TD Gerry Adams has also extended his sympathy to the family and friends of the former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Dr Garret FitzGerald.

(BMcN/BMcC)