Lenihan 'an enormous loss to public life': McAleese

President Mary McAleese, who first met Mr Lenihan as a student at Trinity College, has said the death of such a young and talented politician was untimely.

“As minister for finance, Brian had to confront challenges, the scale and gravity of which were unprecedented in the history of the state,” she said.

“Despite his illness, he faced up to those challenges with extraordinary but characteristic dignity, courage and good humour.

“Brian’s death is an enormous loss to public life in Ireland.”

The president said she hoped the Lenihan family could draw some comfort knowing the former minister lived a life of outstanding personal integrity and dedicated public service.

Meanwhile, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who twice appointed Mr Lenihan to ministerial roles, said: "He was a politician of outstanding capabilities and compassion who was colourful and extraordinarily clever.

“He did immense work on behalf of the people of this country as a minister and his loss is a huge one for Irish politics.”

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, who is at Farmleigh to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Martin McGuinness, described Mr Lenihan as a personal friend who had helped out the North several times when it was needed.

“I express not just my personal and party sympathy (to his family) but indeed sympathy on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive and the people of Northern Ireland,” he said. “He was a good friend to Northern Ireland.”

Mr Robinson said all who knew Mr Lenihan could not help but be impressed by his courage battling cancer.

“He never sought any concession for his illness, he came and did a full day’s work and more,” he said.

“I, like Enda (Kenny), can say Brian was a friend. I think it says much about him, his character as an individual, that all of us who knew him consider him to be so.”

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added his sympathies to the extended Lenihan family.

“They will miss him and we will miss him too,” he said. “He was not just a good politician, he was a very affable person, someone who was very inclusive and someone who was a character in his own right.”

Mr McGuinness said everybody admired Mr Lenihan’s strength and fortitude during the course of his “great battle” against sickness.

“This is a very sad day for us,” he added, flanked by Mr Kenny and Mr Robinson. “We are not just losing a very experienced politician, someone who made a massive contribution to life on this island, but we have also lost a very dear friend.”

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: “Brian was a man who was very popular across the political divide and was much loved in his constituency and across the state.”

European Commissioner Olli Rehn said Mr Lenihan made an extraordinary personal and professional contribution to tackling the recession.

“Brian displayed great personal courage, strength and dedication to the public good, during a period of exceptional economic challenge in the life of Ireland and Europe,” the Commissioner said.

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