Olli Rehn: Lenihan provided 'an outstanding example of public service'

EU Commissioner Olli Rehn has said he greatly admired Brian Lenihan's "great personal courage, strength and dedication to the public good".

"It is with great sadness that I have learnt this morning of the passing of Brian Lenihan," said Mr Rehn.

"He is and will always be held in the highest esteem by those of us who worked with him in Europe," he added.

"In placing his duty to the nation above his personal difficulties, Brian Lenihan has provided us with an outstanding example of public service.

"I would like to convey my condolences to his wife Patricia, to his children, to his mother and to his family on their enormous loss.

"This is a loss which will be shared by many people across the political spectrum in Europe, who have had the honour to know Brian Lenihan as a politician and as a person.