Former Irish PM John Bruton to be given state funeral
John Bruton died on Tuesday after a long illness
- Published
A state funeral is to be held for former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) John Bruton on Saturday.
The 76-year-old Fine Gael politician died in the Mater Hospital in Dublin on Tuesday.
Mr Bruton served as taoiseach from 1994 to 1997.
He was instrumental in the evolving Northern Ireland peace process along with the then-UK Prime Minister John Major, with whom he launched the Anglo-Irish Framework Document in 1995., external
Mr Bruton's remains were removed to St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Dunboyne, County Meath, on Friday.
His funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 local time on Saturday with burial afterwards in Rooske Cemetery, Dunboyne.
President Bill Clinton with then taoiseach John Bruton, at government buildings during his visit to Ireland in 1995
Born in Dublin on 18 May 1947, Mr Bruton was elected to the Dáil (lower house of the Irish Parliament) to represent Meath in 1969.
As taoiseach he led a so-called "rainbow coalition" government of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left but lost the 1997 general election to Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fáil party.
During his tenure as taoiseach he steered through a referendum that paved the way for the legalisation of divorce in Ireland.
He continued to lead Fine Gael until 2001 and later served as the EU ambassador to the United States.
Tributes have been paid to the former taoiseach from across the political spectrum.
Sir John Major said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Mr Bruton's death, describing him as a "formidable servant of the Irish nation and of peace".
Current Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described Mr Bruton as “a doer and a philosopher” who “made a particular effort to reach out to the unionist community”.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said he was privileged to work with Mr Bruton who he said was a "very energetic taoiseach" and a "deeply committed politician".
Book of condolence
Mr Bruton's successor as taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who led the Republic of Ireland during the period of the Good Friday Agreement, said Mr Bruton's involvement in Northern Ireland "was always genuine".
Stormont's First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly extended their condolences to his family and friends.
Meanwhile, a book of condolence for Mr Bruton has been opened at the Department of the Taoiseach in Dublin, and there is also a version online.
Flags are being flown at half-mast on all government buildings until after the funeral.