Members of the public started paying their final respects to former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald today as he lies in state before tomorrow’s funeral.

"I think he was the most honest politican we've ever seen…I don't think we'll ever see the likes of him again," said one man who paid his respects to the late Dr Garret FitzGerald today.

Thousands are expected to gather at the Mansion House in Dublin today to pay their respects to the former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald.

Members of the public will pay their final respects to former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald today as he lies in state ahead of tomorrow’s funeral.

U2 frontman Bono has paid his own inimitable tribute to former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald who he struck a friendship with in the early days of U2.

Books of condolence will open to the public later in memory of the late Dr Garret FitzGerald.

The Dáil has been adjourned for the day as a mark of respect for the former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald who died this morning.

Garrett FitzGerald has been described as "a committed and outstanding European" by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barosso.

Bertie Ahern has said Garret FitzGerald was "never partisan or tribal" in his politics, and "truly did put people before politics".

Dr Garret FitzGerald was caricatured as something between a whiz kid and an absent-minded professor.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson, who bitterly opposed the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, today led the tributes in the North to the late Dr Garret FitzGerald.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, today visiting Kildare as part of her four-day state trip to this country, has offered her sympathies following the death of former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald.

Representatives from the business sector have joined those paying tributes to former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald following his death at the age of 85.

Political leaders of all stripes have paid tribute to former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald who has died after a short illness.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Dr Garret FitzGerald made an enormous contribution to Irish politics and to our wider society.

President Mary McAleese has said that she is "deeply saddened" by the death of former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald, who has passed away at the age of 85.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn was among those paying tribute to the former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald this morning, saying he had learned of his passing "with great sadness."

Two-time taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald, was, unlike probably every other leading politician of his generation, a man completely without guile and cunning.

The death has taken place in hospital of former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald, it was announced this morning.